Dear Google Maps Engine trial user,

This email is to inform you about some changes to Google Maps Engine.

In an effort to provide world­class location content to consumers and businesses alike and to build on the strength of our infrastructure and capabilities, Google will end support for the Google Maps Engine (GME) product on January 29, 2016. After January 29, 2016, the product will be deactivated and no longer available for use. As an organization, we want to focus our efforts on delivering rich location content via our APIs, and enabling customers to take advantage of the capabilities provided by our Google Cloud Platform products.

Effective immediately, we will no longer be allowing new free sign­ups. However, your existing GME project will be available for use through January 29, 2016. The GME API will still be available throughout this time.

What alternative solutions are there for GME?

Google has scoped some alternative solutions for some common GME use cases. Please find the following resources on solutions for some particular use cases below (additional options will be added as they are scoped):

Create a map using Google My Maps
Building spatial applications with Google Cloud SQL and Google Maps API
Serving raster layers on Google Cloud Platform
Building a store locator with the Google Maps API and Cloud SQL

What will happen to my data?

By default, Google will remove any data from your GME project once support ends on January 29, 2016. Map Editors may also manually delete any dataset through the GME web application, and this data will be removed from our systems as well. Please see this technical whitepaper for more details. Data may be exported from your GME project using the instructions in this Help Center article. You may also export data from GME to Google Cloud SQL using interoperability software such as Geospatial Data Abstraction Library (GDAL) or Safe Software FME Desktop, please see this Help Center article instead.

Will I still be able to use Maps API?

Yes, both the free and Google for Work versions of the Google Maps API will still be available for use in accordance with the applicable terms and conditions after GME and GME API support ends. For additional questions, feel free to reach out to our Google Maps Engine Users group.

Regards, The Google Maps Engine Team