According to a report from BBC, Google is planning to charge its users who use Google Maps by linking their websites to the map locations. According to the report, Google has taken this step due to heavy usage of the service. So, from 1st January 2012, Google will be charging for its Google Maps API Service, there is a limitation too. 
As, users will only be charged when there are more than 25,000 map hits are made in a day.
Usually, travel firms and other websites use Google Maps to attract customers at their location which are usually acquired by local users. It has also been rumored that Google will charge $4 per 1000 views in addition to the above mentioned limit. About the limit, Google has maintained a huge one, because 25000 free hits means that only “0.35% of users” will be affected by this. So, its not that big of a deal right now.
Google has also asked developers that they have time till the 1st January, so, they can easily evaluate their usage and also determine whether they will be affected or not and then take necessary actions. According to Thor Mitchell, the product manager of the Maps API at Google:
“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. “
