Global Mapper Subscription Transition and Blue Marble Hub Overview
Executive Leadership and Webinar Overview
Eric Bogard serves as the Vice President of Marketing at Blue Marble.
Al Fugalaro serves as the Director of Account Management at Blue Marble.
Radhika Raj serves as the Director of Product Management at Blue Marble.
The purpose of the transition to a subscription model is to provide clarity and practical steps for organizations currently utilizing Global Mapper licenses.
Fundamental Changes to Global Mapper Licensing
Global Mapper is transitioning to a subscription model beginning in September 2026.
One annual cost will replace separate licenses, standalone products, and separate maintenance and service contracts that organizations currently manage.
These consolidated subscriptions will now include previously separate components, including the Geographic Calculator, Map Publisher, and training services.
The software industry's movement toward subscription models allows for faster shipping of updates; Blue Marble intends to move from two releases per year to four releases per year.
Consolidating tools into a single product allows for compounding value rather than spreading development across multiple individual tools.
Users will stay current automatically without the need for separate upgrade purchases or maintenance contract tracking.
Support tickets to move licenses between hardware (e.g., when a user receives a new laptop) will no longer be required due to the new management system.
Existing file scripts and workflows will continue to function exactly as they do currently.
Subscription Tier Structure and Functional Descriptions
The subscription model is organized into three distinct tiers: Essentials, Advanced, and Professional.
Essentials Tier: This tier covers foundational tasks, including:
Data viewing.
Format conversion.
Geodetics.
Scripting.
Advanced Tier: This tier adds higher-level production tools, including:
The full analysis toolset.
Cartographic production.
Geographic Calculator.
Map Publisher.
Professional Tier: This tier is designed for specialist workflows, adding:
LIDAR processing.
Drone photogrammetry.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) classification.
All three tiers include the following standard features:
The Blue Marble Hub.
Offline access capabilities.
Four software releases per year.
Integrated support and training.
Scaling is simplified by sizing to active users and assigning each individual to a tier matching their specific workflow, which often results in a smaller and cleaner user count compared to traditional floating license pools.
Software Releases and Transition Policy
The September release marks the official kickoff for the subscription model.
New capabilities in the September release include:
Styled data exchange (Advanced and Professional tiers).
Automated tree trunk classification (Professional tier).
Perpetual licenses previously owned by customers will continue to function on their current versions.
Data remains local; there is no cloud lock-in or forced migration for existing data.
Post-September 2026, the subscription model will be the only available path for license renewals.
Updates, new releases, and support for perpetual licenses will stop at Version 27.
Organizations whose renewals fall before October have a choice between current models and the new subscription.
A 20% discount is available for the first year of subscription for those who register early. This offer is valid via a discount code for 30 days from receipt.
Customers with active maintenance and service contracts will receive credit for their remaining term toward the subscription balance to ensure they do not pay twice.
The Blue Marble Hub Platform
The Blue Marble Hub is a unified management platform for practitioners and administrators.
It serves as a central location to manage account identity, subscription details, seat assignments, and user roles.
The Hub allows for direct product downloads, replacing the need to navigate the standard website for executables or MSI files.
Authentication and Security:
The Hub uses the same login credentials as Global Mapper.
Support for Single Sign-On (SSO) and federated login is included, allowing users to sign in via Google, Apple, or Microsoft accounts.
The platform features a responsive design accessible via desktop, tablet, or mobile browsers.
Administrative Features:
Licenses Page: Provides an overview of all subscriptions regardless of the purchase method (web, representative, or reseller). Displays tier types, validity periods, and seat counts.
User Screen: Allows admins to invite users, assign specific licenses, monitor login activity, and manage roles (e.g., Administrator vs. User).
Tracking: Admins can see who is assigned, who is pending, and who requires reminders.
User Features:
My Products Page: Displays all products a user is licensed to access.
Simplified Installation: Eliminates manual key tracking. Once the software is installed and run, the system recognizes the user without requiring a copy-paste license key.
Version Management: Users can track which versions they have downloaded and see the latest builds or updates automatically.
Connectivity and Technical Support
The Hub provides visibility into the connectivity status of users.
Administrators can see which users are online, roaming, or offline, including how many days their offline status remains valid to prevent lockouts.
A future feature will allow users to request offline licenses for perpetually air-gapped machines. Admins can provide a license file associated with a user login for these field operations.
Support is integrated directly into the Hub interface.
Users can create support tickets and monitor their status in-app.
Administrators can create support tickets on behalf of other users in their organization to facilitate collaboration and concern resolution.
Questions & Discussion
Question: Do all plans include support?
Response: Yes, access to support is included with all plans, including Professional, Essentials, and Advanced tiers, via the Blue Marble Hub.
Question: Is switching to subscription mandatory, or can the software be used without it?
Response: Switching is not mandatory. Users can keep their perpetual licenses, but those licenses will stay on Version 27 and will not receive future updates, new releases, or maintenance and support after the renewal period passes. After September, subscription is the only path for renewal.
Question: Are there advantages if I already own Map Publisher and Global Mapper on perpetual licenses?
Response: Yes, the subscription offers consolidation. Map Publisher is now bundled into the Advanced and Professional tiers of Global Mapper. This results in one bill, one contract, consolidated updates, and generally lower pricing than maintaining two separate line items.
Question: How is the Hub accessed?
Response: It is accessible via the top navigation of the revamped Blue Marble website, via direct URL, and through purchase communications sent to users. It will be the central place for profile management for both perpetual and subscription customers.
Question: What happens to files if I do not subscribe?
Response: The data remains the property of the user. Perpetual licenses already owned remain functional on the current versions.
Question: Can subscriptions be aligned to a single renewal date?
Response: Yes, they are aligned to one renewal date.
Question: What changes for an analyst on day one of a subscription?
Response: From a capability standpoint, they lose nothing. The primary change is the workflow for accessing the software: they will download through the Hub and log in with their credentials rather than using a manual license key.
Question: If a maintenance plan was renewed on July 1st, is it still valid?
Response: Yes. If renewed prior to the subscription changeover, the agreement is valid for one year. At the next renewal, the user can choose to move to subscription or keep the license without maintenance.
Question: How do existing Global Mapper Professional licenses map to the new tiers?
Response: Historically, a Global Mapper Professional license maps most closely to the new Professional tier because it includes the LIDAR and AI tools. Users are encouraged to have consultative conversations with account managers to determine which specific tier fits their actual usage.
Question: Can Hub administrators have multi-tiered roles?
Response: Currently, the system supports two primary roles: Admin and User. However, Blue Marble is seeking feedback for more complex administrative structures.
Question: When exactly does the subscription model launch?
Response: The transition occurs in September, specifically mentioned as starting September 28th.
Question: What is Map Publisher and its capabilities?
Response: Map Publisher is a tool used for producing professional-grade, cartographic maps for internal or external use. It functions as a plugin for the Adobe platform, allowing users to finish their workflow and create high-level output from their processed data.
Question: What is the technical process for migrating from an existing license to a subscription?
Response: It is not a direct technical migration but a new purchase. The user keeps their perpetual license, then purchases and installs the subscription version. The subscription uses a named-user licensing system that identifies the user upon login, removing the need for manual key entry. If the user is mid-cycle on a contract, the remaining time is prorated when forming the new subscription contract.