This morning we started sending email out to Frappr.com members about the imminent retirement of the "Classic" Frappr Guest Map. To clarify, the "New" Frappr Guest Maps, that we created 2 years ago, and offer up from Platial.com/frappr, are safe.
If you are not sure which version you have, this should help.
CLASSIC:
NEW:
The backstory is that direct integration between frappr.com and platial.com could never get enough dedicated traction as it was never an emergency (oh startup life). A direct migration tool was under development and being tested but the lack of response from frappr power users basically killed the project. Many members cut their losses and just replaced their Classic maps with the updated New versions, leaving some significant amounts of data behind. We cut off the ability to create Classic maps about a year ago, but their use did not actually decline. We are still getting up to 500 new members a day through the 400,000 active widgets out there, but they just aren't sustainable cost-wise.
A few days ago we released a KML export tool that can be used to back up all the friends and images onto your desktop. You are strongly encouraged to archive your maps.
Today we are offering a new option for the truly loyal Frappr members, the ability to pay a small fee to keep ANY widget alive for the coming year. It doesn't have to be your own map, and you don't have to login to Frappr to initiate the payment. Just go to the map's homepage where you will see a huge yellow banner describing the process. The price is $24.99 and handled through PayPal (no account required here either, and yes you can pay with a major credit card). There is a payment deadline of Dec 31st, 2009.
For those of you who might have changed your email address, or who just want to see exactly what the email says I'm including it here:
To: Jason Wilson, Frappr member since 2007.Two years ago Platial released an updated version of the Frappr Guest Map. Many Frappr members welcomed the change and replaced their old maps with the new ones. But many of you have not yet switched, in fact we still have more than 400,000 Classic Guest Maps still installed and active out in the world. The time has come to talk about your options as we start to retire the old version.
1. For those of you who are loyal to the classic style map, we are offering a simple payment option. $24.99 will keep your map alive and kicking for one full year. The deadline for receipt of payment will be January 1, 2010. At that time we will stop serving the maps.
2. For those who simply want to save their map data, we just released an export tool that gives you access to all the friends and photos from your maps creating a fully offline archive in the popular KML format right on your desktop. To use the exporter just look for the links on your map page on Frappr.com.
More information about both options can be found right on the http://frappr.com homepage.
Oh yeah, plenty of retro Frappr schwag still available.
http://www.zazzle.com/frappr*Happy Mapping!
The Frappr & Platial Team
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