API for retrieving driving directions and traffic data?

Question

I'm interested in working on a side-project at work that integrates traffic data and automated route planning with our dispatching application. However, it seems that Google Maps and the Microsoft Virtual Earth Platform place restrictions that interfere with what I would like to do.

Is there an API (free or commercial) that allows the following:

1. Retrieval of real-time traffic data in a constrained region by an automated system
2. Automated geocoding and local caching of resulting longitude and latitude values
3. Free development license for in-house testing (can have request limits and such)

I don't need the ability to display maps. I simply need to retrieve directions and traffic data which I can use to implement a simple Belief-Desire-Intention agent system that will automatically schedule and reroute service trucks based on time constraints and traffic problems.

Thanks!

Answer 1

Have you looked into http://developer.yahoo.com/traffic/rest/V1/index.html , and other APIs per http://developer.yahoo.com/maps/ ? Not sure whether they meet your needs, but you don't mention checking them out, and such checking should be easy.

Answer 2

Microsoft MapPoint web service has real time traffic, routing, and geocoding components. The only problem with MS MapPoint is that it seems priced for larger organizations than ours that need a much higher transaction volume, so we buy MS MapPoint web services through a reseller, NACGEO, and so far have been very pleased. NACGEO Website