Web developers can now incorporate SSL for their geocoding applications, including Maps API v3, Static Maps API, and Maps API Web Services.
Google, recognizing a growing problem of how more and more people access their applications, websites and programs from cafes and other public wifi areas, have decided to invest more effort into securing these applications.
In order to load the Maps API (version 3) using HTTPS (SSL), a web developer will need to use the hostname - maps-api-ssl.google.com. For static Maps (API) and web services, web developers will need to call the host maps.googleapis.com.
These map services will continue to support HTTP (non secure) protocol.