Google warns that rate limits, overage fees are coming to Maps API

0Matt Briney • 27th Oct 2011 • Reading List • Blog, free access, Google, google maps, Maps, mashups, overage, post, pricing model, yesterday

Google offered some details about its plan to rate-limit the Google Maps API in a statement posted yesterday on the company’s Geo Developers blog. Developers who exceed the rate limits will have to either pay overage fees or buy a Maps API Premier subscription.

According to the blog post, Google will wait until next year before it actually starts enforcing the new rate limits. The delay is to give developers some time to adjust to the change and make appropriate preparations. The new rate limits will pose an unfortunate barrier to ubiquitous map mashups on the Internet, but the pricing model will help make the service more financially sustainable, ensuring that Google doesn’t have to shut down free access entirely.