How does GoogleMaps and Live Search Maps make money?

[rasmasyean]

I don’t see any ads on these small screens or know where they can possible put them in the future.
I imagine they have to buy maps and satellite images and even traffic data (unless this is a public service), because even GPS providers often charge for these. And Live Search’s directory information seems like it’s something that just comes from a public yellow pages or something and movies listing. How do they get gas prices though? Do stations pay Microsoft to list them? The only thing I can think of that Microsoft makes money on this App IF you use “personal” collections, you will prolly go to their big Live Search to update it and they can show you ads there. But why does Google make this?

Is this like a “free service” that doesn’t cost much to maintain and large firms just want to use it to make you think of them the next time you buy or use software?