Failed to load map. Error contacting Google servers issue with android google maps api v2

I have been trying to app a Google Map in my Android app using the v2 API for the past two days, with no success. All I get every time is a `Google Maps Android API(16603): Failed to load map. Error contacting Google servers. This is probably an authentication issue (but could be due to network errors).` I have followed Google's setup tutorial (https://developers.google.com/maps/documentation/android/start), tried multiple times with different projects in different workspaces, tried different Google accounts, gone through various answers and suggestions here in StackOverflow, but to no avail. I am using Eclipse 4.2.2 with Android SDK Tools 22.01 and I have installed Google Play services (rev. 7), also I have imported `google-play-services_lib` into my workspace and added a reference to that to my android project. Here is my code: `AndroidManifest.xml:` ``` <?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?> <manifest xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android" package="com.example.googlemapdemo" android:versionCode="1" android:versionName="1.0" > <uses-sdk android:minSdkVersion="8" android:targetSdkVersion="17" /> <permission android:name="com.example.googlemapdemo.permission.MAPS_RECEIVE" android:protectionLevel="signature" /> <uses-permission android:name="com.example.googlemapdemo.permission.MAPS_RECEIVE"/> <uses-permission android:name="android.permission.INTERNET" /> <uses-permission android:name="android.permission.ACCESS_NETWORK_STATE" /> <uses-permission android:name="android.permission.WRITE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE" /> <uses-permission android:name="com.google.android.providers.gsf.permission.READ_GSERVICES" /> <uses-permission android:name="android.permission.ACCESS_COARSE_LOCATION" /> <uses-permission android:name="android.permission.ACCESS_FINE_LOCATION" /> <uses-feature android:glEsVersion="0x00020000" android:required="true"/> <application android:allowBackup="true" android:icon="@drawable/ic_launcher" android:label="@string/app_name" android:theme="@style/AppTheme" > <activity android:name="com.example.googlemapdemo.MainActivity" android:label="@string/app_name" > <intent-filter> <action android:name="android.intent.action.MAIN" /> <category android:name="android.intent.category.LAUNCHER" /> </intent-filter> </activity> <meta-data android:name="com.google.android.maps.v2.API_KEY" android:value="my_api_key" /> </application> </manifest> ``` `activity_main.xml:` ``` <?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?> <fragment xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android" xmlns:map="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res-auto" android:id="@+id/the_map" android:layout_width="match_parent" android:layout_height="match_parent" android:name="com.google.android.gms.maps.SupportMapFragment" /> ``` `MainActivity.java` ``` package com.example.googlemapdemo; import android.os.Bundle; import android.support.v4.app.FragmentActivity; import android.view.Menu; public class MainActivity extends FragmentActivity { @Override protected void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState) { super.onCreate(savedInstanceState); setContentView(R.layout.activity_main); } @Override public boolean onCreateOptionsMenu(Menu menu) { // Inflate the menu; this adds items to the action bar if it is present. getMenuInflater().inflate(R.menu.main, menu); return true; } } ``` Also I created an API Project on https://code.google.com/apis/console/ where I have enabled the `Google Maps Android API v2` service. Then I obtained my SHA1 debug certificate fingerprint using ``` keytool -list -v -keystore "C:\Users\my_user_name\.android\debug.keystore" -alias androiddebugkey -storepass android -keypass android ``` and entered that and the package name in the API console, got the API key and put it in the manifest (where `my_api_key` is). This procedure I repeated a number of times, regenerating the key but with the same result. Could anyone help with this or suggest anything else I could try? Any help will be greatly appreciated!