Wikimapia is a very interesting 'mashup'. It is a great example of how sophisticated applications can be created on the web using other, existing online technology and just a little bit of programming to customize a unique solution. In this case, the creators have used Google maps to deliver the map content and have layered over their own markup layer. Where available, places on the map are linked to articles in Wikipedia. They have used two existing content services and put them together to create a useful new tool.
The site creators have not had to do any of the data entry. Every day new and interesting places are added. The content and place descriptions are created by users of the site. Anyone can add a place and it becomes permanent once other visitors have given it enough positive votes.
And how is the site supported? How do they make money? Again, they have used an off the shelf solution by incorporating Google AdSense in the detailed place descriptions. Because these ads are content aware they will be relevant to whatever a visitor is searching for, and therefore most likely successful.
With some good ideas and just a little bit of know-how anyone can built really useful web tools - you just have the be the first to think of the idea!
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