Garmin is moving forward with its subscription-based service, Connect+, despite initial public skepticism. This premium offering, also referred to as Connect Plus, aims to gate certain functionalities behind a paywall, a decision that has sparked debate among users. However, Garmin’s Chief Executive Officer maintains that early feedback on the service has been encouraging, paving the way for its integration into future high-end products, potentially including the speculated Forerunner 970.
Navigating Controversy Since Launch
The introduction of Garmin Connect+ towards the end of March ignited considerable discussion within the Garmin user community. Priced at $6.99 on a monthly basis or $69.99 for an annual subscription, Garmin sought to allay concerns by assuring its user base that the existing suite of features and data within the standard Garmin Connect platform would remain accessible without charge.
Future Plans and Executive Insights
Garmin has recently provided further clarity regarding the current status and future trajectory of Connect+. During the company’s first-quarter earnings call for 2025, Cliff Pemble, Garmin’s President and CEO, offered key insights into the company’s vision for the service.
During the quarter, we announced Garmin Connect+, a premium plan offering personalized insights driven by artificial intelligence, enhanced live tracking, and exclusive achievement badges.
Pemble emphasized that Connect+ is designed to enhance users’ understanding of their health and fitness through personalized Active Intelligence insights powered by sophisticated AI algorithms.
Hints at Future Paywalled Features
As noted by outlets such as the5krunner, Pemble reportedly provided additional details beyond what was included in the official earnings call PDF. These supplementary remarks, accessible in the linked video from the 11:23 mark, shed more light on Garmin’s long-term strategy.
According to Pemble, Connect+ represents a “long-term thing” and a “very important part” of Garmin’s evolving fitness ecosystem. Notably, he suggested that forthcoming features would be exclusively available through the Connect+ subscription, citing positive initial responses from those who have already adopted the service. While the specific nature of these paywalled features remains undisclosed, Pemble indicated that they would be associated with the company’s “premium offerings.” It is widely anticipated that the initial implementation of these changes will coincide with the launch of the Forerunner 970, the rumored successor to the Forerunner 965, expected later in the current season.
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