Sept/Oct 2005

Microsoft has launched a bid to extend its presence in the world of digital mapping with the launch of version 4.0 of its MapPoint Web Service product. This is its system for providing online mapping resources that developers can embed in Web-based applications such as vehicle tracking.

The new version encourages developers familiar with high-end geographic information systems to migrate to MapPoint - for instance, by including new tools to help users convert existing map files to the MapPoint Web Service polygon file format. They cover ESRI, MapInfo, Autodesk, Intergraph and GML formats.

Users can now conduct polygon spatial queries that encompass custom-defined parameters such as driver delivery areas to improve business productivity and efficiency.

MapPoint Web Service also offers a COM Add-in for MapPoint 2004, the stand-alone version of the application, that allows end users to draw their own polygons and save them to the MapPoint Web Service polygon Extensible Markup Language (XML) file format.

 

Other changes include mapping for four more countries (Hong Kong, New Zealand, Singapore and Taiwan), bringing the total to 26, and support for more languages.

There are also new 'map styles', including simplified line-drawn maps that remove unnecessary details, and night-time maps that provide easier readability under impaired-visibility conditions.

• Microsoft has announced that its MSN Virtual Earth service is to be offered free to developers. This is linked to an initiative to establish a range of location-based services allowing local searches by mobile computer users, taking their reference points from information such as Wi-Fi hotspot location.