NEW ORLEANS, March 19, 2003 — Today at the Microsoft Mobility Developer Conference 2003, Microsoft Corp. highlighted the growing developer demand for its MapPoint®
location-based services platform. Action Engine Corp., Clarity Communications Systems Inc., HP and Intrado Inc. are among the companies that have announced they are utilizing the MapPoint Web Service, which makes building location-aware wireless solutions easy and cost-effective. These adoptions provide evidence that MapPoint rapidly is becoming the preferred mapping and location-based technology platform for developing mobile solutions.
“The MapPoint location-based services platform is clearly triggering innovation and opportunity in the growing wireless marketplace,”
said Michael Graff, general manager of the MapPoint Business Unit at Microsoft.
“Microsoft is delivering the enabling technology that developers and mobile operators need to tap new revenue streams and at the same time bring about a more meaningful user experience for their customers.”
Built on Microsoft®
.NET technology, MapPoint is a hosted, programmable XML Web service that lets developers integrate maps, driving directions, distance calculations, proximity searches and other location intelligence into applications, business processes and Web sites. The MapPoint Web Service enables rapid development of a wide range of location solutions, including browser-based mapping applications, location-based services for handheld devices and location-enriched enterprise applications.
Action Engine Embeds MapPoint Location-Based Services
Action Engine, the company that delivers finger-touch access to high-speed, over-the-air mobile Web services and device management on
“smart”
devices, has integrated MapPoint location-based services into its Mobile Web Services platform. There, MapPoint intelligently and intuitively shares data across dining, travel, directory and other lifestyle applications to deliver rich, location-based information in seconds.
The MapPoint Web Service offers business listings; conducts powerful proximity searches for points of interest such as restaurants, hotels and movie theaters; and enables users to access maps, directions and routing capabilities in the United States and Europe.
“Location-based services are a core component of wireless data services on smart devices, and with MapPoint, we give subscribers compelling data services they’ll be eager to use as soon as they leave the store with their new device,”
said Action Engine CEO Craig Eisler.
The new services will be demonstrated at CTIA WIRELESS 2003 in the Microsoft and Intel booths, as well as at the Mobility Developer Conference in the Microsoft booth. More information about Action Engine can be found by visiting http://www.actionengine.com/ .
Clarity Chooses MapPoint Technology for Its Mobility Management Navigation System
Clarity Communications Systems, which specializes in the development and deployment of telecom-oriented products and services, has just announced Way-To-Go Navigator, a Global Positioning System (GPS) navigation system built on the MapPoint location-based services platform. The Way-To-Go solution suite provides accurate, audible, on/off-road and real-time navigation from a wireless GPS-enabled handset, along with the ability to remotely manage and track mobile clients. Users receive audible turn-by-turn instructions, including street names and distances to the next maneuver, allowing them to navigate quickly and efficiently. Coupled with Clarity’s Mobility Manager, the solution will offer consumers and businesses an endless number of navigation, tracking and management options.
“A flexible location platform with high-quality content was essential for us to create easy-to-use location services to support our growing user base,”
said Mike Fekety, vice president of product management at Clarity.
“Microsoft MapPoint technology provided the location platform and content coverage we needed.”
Way-To-Go Navigator, the second release in a series of location services products, will be supplemented in the second quarter with tracking and management, as well as infotainment and community-of-interest capabilities such as the
“Where are my friends?”
feature.
More information about Way-To-Go Navigator can be found on Clarity’s Web site at http://www.way-to-go.net/.
HP Taps MapPoint Web Service as Building Block for Telecom Platform
Microsoft’s MapPoint Web Service provides the location component for the HP Mobile Services Delivery Platform (MSDP), a telecommunications platform that offers mobile operators a more efficient way to launch, integrate and manage new wireless services for subscribers.
The newly announced HP MSDP is a powerful set of telecommunications software and tools, partner solutions, carrier-grade hardware, and integration services. Combined, these elements constitute an integrated environment to incorporate all of an operator’s mobile services, such as messaging, location and entertainment.
Typically, operators have created and deployed new mobile services one at a time, each with its own network and management resources. With HP MSDP, mobile operators can integrate their mobile services into a single platform in which network and management resources are shared, thus minimizing duplication, simplifying management and reducing costs.
HP designed MSDP to communicate with Microsoft .NET-based services through standard interfaces as part of the company’s commitment to interoperability. In working with Microsoft to incorporate the MapPoint Web Service, HP pointed out that such innovative services provide the building blocks for efficient development of user-centric mobile services.
More information about HP and its platform for mobile services can be found at the company’s booth, No. 403, at the Microsoft Mobility Developer Conference this week, or on the Web at http://www.hp.com/.
Intrado Aligns With MapPoint Web Service to Offer Value-Added Services
Intrado, a leading provider of solutions that manage and deliver mission-critical information for telecommunications providers, teamed with the Microsoft MapPoint Business Unit to develop and market operator services that integrate maps, driving directions and other location intelligence into mobile applications for business and consumer users.
The first in a new line of services from Intrado will be IntelliVector, a suite of applications that integrate Microsoft’s MapPoint Web Service with network software and systems to enable wireless 911 and commercial location-based services.
“This exciting alliance paves the way for value-added services that will improve wireless operators’ ability to attract and retain customers, as well as drive revenue from their existing infrastructure,”
said Dan Hoskins, vice president and general manager of Intrado’s Wireless Business Unit.
“By combining Microsoft’s proven technology with Intrado’s LBS expertise, we’re giving wireless carriers and operators an unprecedented array of service bureau options.”
More information about Intrado and its mobile solutions can be found at http://www.intrado.com/.
Location Plays Important Role in Wireless Ecosystem
Mobile location-based services (LBS) are being successfully deployed by businesses today, delivering benefits such as increased worker productivity and improved customer service. In the past, these solutions were considered valuable, but difficult and expensive to implement. Microsoft addressed this issue with the MapPoint Web Service, which makes it easy and cost-effective to build and deploy mobile LBS applications.
Until now, such applications required specialized programming skills and large investments in infrastructure, data and staff. The MapPoint Web Service lets developers use familiar tools and open standards to embed maps, driving directions, distance calculations, proximity searches and other location intelligence into their mobile applications.
The MapPoint Web Service platform is a subscription-based XML Web service, hosted by Microsoft and designed around a standards-based architecture. This model helps developers of LBS applications be productive quickly and lets businesses take advantage of advanced mobility features without prohibitive up-front costs. More information on the MapPoint Web Service and mobile location-based services can be found at http://www.microsoft.com/mappoint/net/lbs/.
About Microsoft
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq
“MSFT”
) is the worldwide leader in software, services and Internet technologies for personal and business computing. The company offers a wide range of products and services designed to empower people through great software — any time, any place and on any device.
Microsoft and MapPoint are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corp. in the United States and/or other countries.
The names of actual companies and products mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners.
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