谷歌地圖服務將收費 重度用戶何去何從？
Google's services have famously been built on the principle of offering something for nothing. But that approach is over - at least where Google maps is concerned.
谷歌服務有個著名的基本原則：免費提供。不過這種方法現在已經行不通，至少就谷歌地圖而言，免費時代已經過去了。
The 'API' - script that allows Sites to build Google Maps into their sites or apps will no longer be free for heavy users from January 1, 2012.
自2012年1月1日起，谷歌地圖的重度用戶將無法再免費將谷歌地圖應用程序界面構建到他們的網站或應用中。
Google is keen to emphasise, though, that the changes won't hit sites or apps who are light users of Google Maps.
不過谷歌很迫切地強調這些改變不會對谷歌地圖輕度用戶的網站或應用造成影響。
Ordinary restaurants or hotels, say, won't be affected. To be charged, you have to hit 25,000 map loads per day.
一般的餐館和賓館不會受到影響。只有每天地圖下載量超過2.5萬纔會開始收費。
But a substantial number of sites could be affected. Worldwide, there are 1,115,421 different websites and apps using Google Maps into their site, according to site metric specialist Builtwith.
不過還是會有很多網站將會受到影響。 網站跳出率（小編注：跳出率是衡量訪問質量的單位，指單頁訪問次數或訪問者從進入目標頁離開網站的訪問次數百分比）研究專家Builtwith表示，在世界範圍內，共有110多萬個不同的網站或應用程序在使用谷歌地圖。
Travel, shopping, business and news sites look likely to be the ones hit with Google's charges, as these sectors are the heaviest users of the service.
旅遊、購物、商務和新聞網站將首當其衝受到重創，這些行業都是谷歌地圖服務的重度用戶。
Unless site owners agree to the charges, or do a deal with Google, they will be unable to use Google Maps.
除非這些網站所有者同意付費，或與谷歌公司達成協議，否則他們將無法使用谷歌地圖。
'No site exceeding these limits will stop working immediately,' said Google via its official map blog.
谷歌通過官方地圖博客表示：“超過時間期限的網站也不會馬上被停止地圖服務。”
'We understand that developers need time to evaluate their usage, determine if they are affected, and respond if necessary. There are three options available for sites that are exceeding the limits.'
“我們很理解這些網站開發者需要時間來評估收費地圖服務的使用情況，看看自己的網站是否受到影響，並適時做出反應。我們爲這些網站提供了三個選擇。”
Sites will be offered Google Maps Premium - a paid for service costing a reported $10,000 a year, which also offers branded maps and custom uses of Google Maps.
網站可以選擇谷歌地圖收費版。據報道這個收費版服務每年的費用是1萬美元。收費版會提供谷歌標誌地圖和自定義地圖。
If they opt not to pay for this, fees are $4 per 1,000 page loads over the 25,000 per day - or £10 per Street View load over the 10,000 per day.
如果網站不接受這種收費版，那麼對於每天下載量超過2.5萬的網站，每1000次網頁下載將收費4美元。或者對於下載超過1萬次的網站，每次街景下載收費10美元。
'These changes are intended to secure the long term future of Maps by ensuring that even when used by the highest volume for-profit sites, the service remains viable,' said a Google spokesperson.
谷歌的發言人表示，這些改變的目的是確保谷歌地圖的長期未來。“我們需要確保就算是最多數量的營利性網站使用我們的地圖，這項服務也還是可以使用的。”
The service could provide an opportunity for competitors to undercut the internet giant's prices.
互聯網巨頭谷歌的地圖收費服務可能會爲其他競爭者提供可乘之機。
Tech insiders have speculated that the move might drive Apple towards developing their own mapping service - a move they are strongly rumoured to be close to, after the company purchased mapping specialist C3 technologies earlier this year.
科技業內人士推測谷歌的這項改革可能會推動蘋果公司開發自己的地圖服務。自蘋果公司在今年早些時候收購了三維地圖技術開發公司C3 technologies後，坊間就一直在流傳蘋果將開發地圖服務的說法。
