http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-15523050

"From 1 January 2012, Google will charge for the Google Maps API service when more than the limit of 25,000 map "hits" are made in a day.

Websites, especially travel firms, use Google Maps to link customers to a view of the destinations they inquire about.

Google is rumoured to be charging $4 per 1,000 views in excess of the limit."

What are the alternatives: Bing, Yahoo, MapQuest and do they charge?  Seems like an opportunity for them here.

haven't google been limiting it anyway? I know one developer has been swearing it stops working after 5000 queries a day.....

>stops working after 5000 queries a day

I've heard that 5k number as well.