ACTION REQUIRED:MissingKeyMapError NoApiKeys (if no key) OverQuotaMapError (if up the 25 K ML without a key and without the billing)

“After October 12, 2016, if your app exceeds the 25,000 map loads per day free limit, the API will cease to function for the rest of the day.”

Unidentified Google Maps API Loads

Domains making use of the Google Maps API since before June 22, 2016 have been able to access the Google Maps Javascript API, Static Maps API, and Street View Image API without identification.

This means that neither the now-required API Key nor Client ID are implemented in the calls being made to access the Google Maps API services. As of June 22, 2016, all new domains trying to access the Google Maps API required identification whereas all domains prior to June 22 continued working, and continue to work, without identification.

As a result, an error similar to this will appear: MissingKeyMapError NoApiKeys (if no key) OverQuotaMapError (if up the 25 K ML without a key and without the billing)

As of October 12, 2016 Google is enforcing the requirement to identify, with the appropriate API Key or Client ID, in order to access the Google Maps API. This has already been enforced on new domains, and as of October 12 it will be enforced across all domains.

Why is this happening?

Google offer the Google Maps API to its end-user for free up to 25,000 map loads per day. Once this limit is exceeded in a 24-hour period, the service is no longer free.

Unidentified access means that these limits are not enforced correctly and domains are surpassing the 25,000 map loads per day free limit without having to pay for the higher usage. Google believes higher-volume developers are best served with a Premium Plan license, which includes technical support and a Service Level Agreement. Google are therefore making the necessary changes to ensure that all domains are correctly identified when accessing the service.

How will you be affected?

If your web or mobile application has been using the Google Maps API since before June 22, 2016 it is likely that you will be affected by this change. After October 12, 2016, if your web or mobile application exceeds the 25,000 map loads per day free limit, the API will cease to function for the rest of the day.

On the morning of the October 13th, unidentified access to the Google Maps API will receive an error. To avoid your application being impacted and for your peace-of-mind, it is highly recommended that you contact Intelligence Partner (Premier-tier Partner of Google, Google Maps) as soon as possible.

There will be a grace period for domains which extreme levels of unidentified usage. The change will be incremental, which means you will begin to receive more-and-more errors over a period of time until the service ceases to function entirely. To ensure this incremental shutdown doesn’t affect you, it is recommended that you contact Ross Murray, not only to avoid your application being impacted but also for your own peace of mind.

1 https://developers.google.com/maps/pricing-and-plans/standard-plan-2016-update?utm_source=geoblog&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=2016-geo-na-website-gmedia-blogs-us-blogPost&utm_content=TBC

2 https://googlegeodevelopers.blogspot.com.es/2016/06/building-for-scale-updates-to-google.html