If you haven’t already noticed, we have switched maps from Google maps to OpenStreetMap. We know some of you really loved Google Maps and are finding it a tad bit difficult to use the new map. But we had to make the switch because the new updates that took affect from June 22, 2016 for the standard plan of Google Maps APIs has completely changed.
As we all know, in the last decade there has been a dramatic increase in the usage of mobile devices and as a result the use of Google services has increased exponentially. So far Google has been fulfilling this sea of requests but now they have limited the access and changing their standard plan limits and pricing. Below mentioned are the changes, quoted from the Google blog:
As of June 22, 2016 we are making the following changes to the Google Maps APIs Standard Plan:
- We no longer support keyless access (any request that doesn’t include an API key). Future product updates are only available for requests made with an API key. API keys allow us to contact developers when required and help us identify misbehaving implementations.
- We have implemented a simple 25,000 map loads per day free limit to new Google Maps JavaScript API, Static Maps API, and Street View Image API implementations. The confusing 90-consecutive-day grace period for these APIs is being retired on October 12, 2016. With this change, developers can predictably plan for growth while media sites and US nonprofits can request more quota at no charge via our dedicated support programs.
- We have reduced the daily map load maximum limit you can purchase for Google Maps JavaScript API, Static Maps API, and Street View Image API 1,000,000 to 100,000 requests per API.* We believe higher-volume developers are best served with a Premium Plan license, which includes technical support and a Service Level Agreement, and with this change we’ve also created consistency between Standard Plan quotas across our maps and web service APIs.
- We now count Google Maps JavaScript API client-side requests towards the daily limit of the associated web service API.*
The new policies will apply immediately to all Maps API implementations created on or after June 22nd, 2016.
We took the decision to completely switch the maps to OpenStreetMap as we did not want to increase the monthly service charges for Trakomatic. We want our customers to get the best possible service for the lowest possible charges. And if we would have stuck with Google Maps that would not have been a possibility.
Source: Google