Exercise monitoring platform and group Strava is shutting down Fatmap, the Europe-based 3D mapping platform it had acquired final January.
In an e mail despatched to customers this week, accompanied by an on-line help web page, Fatmap mentioned that its web site and app will likely be retired from October 1, 2024, and customers will get an choice to switch their Fatmap routes to Strava till then.
Whereas the corporate mentioned it should “bring Fatmap’s 3D mapping and other features to Strava,” digging into the small print reveals that a lot will likely be omitted within the transfer.
‘Google Maps for the outdoors’
At its core, Fatmap is akin to Google Maps for the good open air: It serves a high-resolution 3D map platform with detailed routes for skiers, hikers, bikers, and anybody else. The corporate was based within the U.Okay. again in 2013, although its core staff was unfold by hubs in Europe, together with Germany and Lithuania.
It isn’t shocking to see Strava pulling the plug on Fatmap. Strava had mentioned on the time of the deal that whereas the businesses’ merchandise would stay separate initially, it might combine them extra carefully and determine whether or not Fatmap would reside on as a standalone product.
Strava has already launched a few of Fatmap’s options, together with a premium characteristic referred to as Flyover that gives an aerial, 3D video recap of your route.
Nonetheless, sustaining two separate merchandise is extra useful resource intensive than sustaining one. And with a brand new CEO becoming a member of in January, Strava has been doubling down on making its core product stickier and addressing key considerations raised by the group, comparable to dishonest on leaderboards and the shortage of darkish mode.
Strava has pressured that it will likely be porting lots of Fatmap’s options over to its personal app as a part of its premium subscription, however as with such issues, the satan may be very a lot within the particulars.
Strava says it’s incorporating Fatmap’s 3D satellite tv for pc maps, along with the conventional 3D maps and 3D photos that it has already moved over. However whereas customers will be capable to transfer their routes over to Strava, this may solely embrace parts comparable to route title, description and the “line” marking the route.
Associated information comparable to assigned grades can’t be moved over, which presumably will make it troublesome to evaluate a hill’s steepness. Moreover, Fatmap customers gained’t be capable to switch their images over, although they’ll be capable to obtain this information.
Different Fatmap options comparable to adventures, guidebooks and waypoints can’t be transferred to Strava, and customers will likely be given the choice to obtain this information as an alternative utilizing Fatmap’s information export instrument.
Such omissions will render Fatmap ineffective for individuals who use it to navigate distant terrain, or for these making an attempt to determine whether or not to aim a selected ski slope.
Fatmap says it should delete customers’ information after October 1 in the event that they haven’t taken any actions on their account earlier than that date. Customers can take issues into their very own palms now and manually delete their information.
The total textual content of Fatmap’s e mail notification reads:
Hey there,
Thanks for being a devoted member of the FATMAP group. Since we began FATMAP 10 years in the past, your out of doors adventures and expeditions have made FATMAP the world’s strongest 3D map.
FATMAP and Strava joined forces in January 2023 to make out of doors experiences extra accessible. Over the subsequent few months, we’ll carry FATMAP’s 3D mapping and different options to Strava to create the world’s finest platform for planning, navigating, and sharing out of doors adventures with the biggest international group of lively folks.
As we transfer in direction of this joint mission, we’ll retire the FATMAP app and web site on October 1, 2024. Till then, you’ll be capable to use all of the FATMAP options you at the moment take pleasure in. After October 1, the FATMAP app and web site will not be accessible.
If you happen to’d like to maneuver your FATMAP routes to Strava or obtain a duplicate of your FATMAP adventures, routes, waypoints, images, and guidebooks, observe the steps outlined right here earlier than October 1st. After that date, your information will likely be deleted completely.
You’ll be able to be part of Strava without spending a dime or obtain the app on the App Retailer or Google Play. When you migrate your FATMAP routes to Strava, they are going to be accessible as Saved Routes in your Profile on the cell app and in your Dashboard on the Strava web site. Once you transfer your FATMAP routes to Strava, you consent to your information being transferred from FATMAP to Strava, which is headquartered within the U.S. For extra details about your rights concerning your private information on FATMAP, be taught extra right here.
Most mapping options on Strava, together with route creation, route discovery, offline downloads, flyover and private heatmaps, require a Strava subscription. If you happen to aren’t at the moment a Strava subscriber, redeem a free 60-day trial by December 31, 2024. You’ll be able to cancel your subscription at any time throughout the trial and proceed to make use of Strava without spending a dime when your trial ends.
We’d prefer to say thanks as soon as once more for the half you might have performed in FATMAP’s group. We sit up for seeing extra of your adventures on Strava sooner or later!
See you on the market,
Workforce FATMAP
Fatmap e mail to customers
