Google to charge for access to Maps API

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Google to charge for access to Maps API

travelin cat

7:45 pm on Oct 28, 2011 (gmt 0)

Looks like another free ride is over... at least for big users of the API.

The usage limits that now apply to Maps API sites are documented in the Maps API FAQ. However no site exceeding these limits will stop working immediately. We understand that developers need time to evaluate their usage, determine if they are affected, and respond if necessary. There are three options available for sites that are exceeding the limits:

• Reduce your usage to below the limits
• Opt-in to paying for your excess usage at the rates given in the FAQ
• Purchase a Maps API Premier license

[googlegeodevelopers.blogspot.com...]

Pfui

1:58 pm on Oct 29, 2011 (gmt 0)

I hope residential real estate agencies don't just switch to Bing's Bird's Eye View. When researching homes, a listing with an embedded Street View is the next best thing to being there.

keyplyr

8:04 pm on Oct 29, 2011 (gmt 0)

Essential for finding that rave!

incrediBILL

4:53 pm on Oct 30, 2011 (gmt 0)

Considering the amount of money Google has spent building the best maps on the planet IMO, it's about time they started charging. Paying to use Google maps, just in order to maintain the street view alone, is worth it.

londrum

5:38 pm on Oct 30, 2011 (gmt 0)

i don't blame them for charging, because its a good product, but i'm glad i phased out all the maps on my site early on with something else, because this day was always coming.

it's very easy to tie your site into google maps with all the stuff you can do with it... which was probably their idea. because once it's tied in, it's not an easy job to replace it.

keyplyr

7:02 am on Oct 31, 2011 (gmt 0)

Well there's always NokiHoo maps :)

CMidd

8:08 am on Oct 31, 2011 (gmt 0)

25,000 maps a day and only 2,500 Style Map. A lot of webmaster are going to feel this pinch.

the old Freemium, brand Me to free, then charge you later hustle.

Now I'm i make nice money from my site, i try my best to avoid free service that promise the world. there is always a catch coming. I try to bring as many things as possible in house.

simple solution, cache maps image "available in api", then use the image instead of an interactive map "provide a link to the interactive map is the user needs it". Use an image map or some jquery for Placemarks.

lammert

3:25 am on Nov 1, 2011 (gmt 0)

According to their Twitter feed it affects "only 0.35%" of the sites which use the Google Maps API. But that can easily be the majority of the page views.

Hopefully it will mainly affect the shallow sites which spam the index by doing not much more than copying information from thousands or millions of companies from business registers and put them together with a Google Map on "business information sites".

fatpeter

10:22 pm on Dec 10, 2011 (gmt 0)

Am I missing something or can I just make sure my site shown no maps (or less than 25,000) for 1 24 hour period every 90 days ? :)

From the blog

"If my web site or application becomes suddenly popular, will my maps stop working?"

"No. Your maps will continue to function. In order to accommodate sites that experience short term spikes in usage (eg. a news gathering organisation or a site that briefly goes viral), the usage limits will only be enforced once a site has exceeded the limits for 90 consecutive days."

that's a bit "tongue in cheek" don't suppose i'll get away with it as i'm currently running 100,000 - 200,000 a day :(