Google levies charge on heavy use of maps API

Google levies charge on heavy use of maps API

Travel companies who make use of Google Map links for their websites will be charged for heavy use of the service

Companies who make use of the Google Maps API on commercial websites are to be charged for heavy use of the service.

Google is to start charging for usage over the threshold of 25,000 map loads a day from January 1.

Travel sites use the Google Maps API for a wide variety of purposes, most commonly to display products and search results on an interactive map.

Google is rumoured to be charging $4 per 1,000 views in excess of the limit, but estimates that the changes will only affect 0.35% of users.

Writing on the Google Geo Developers blog, Google Maps API product manager Thor Mitchell said the search giant was aware that developers needed time to evaluate their usage and take appropriate steps.

Mitchell said: “We understand that the introduction of these limits may be concerning.

“However, with the continued growth in adoption of the Maps API, we need to secure its long-term future by ensuring that even when used by the highest-volume for-profit sites, the service remains viable.”