Features

MapPoint Web Service 4.0 Regional Coverage

The MapPoint Web Service now provides geographic street-level detail for all or part of the following countries: Canada, United States, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Brazil Major cities, Australia, Hong Kong, New Zealand, Singapore, Taiwan, Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Gibraltar, Germany, Greece, Guernsey, Ireland, Isle of Man, Italy, Jersey, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, San Marino, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom, and Vatican City.

With MWS 4.0, Find Address functionality was added for New Zealand, Hong Kong, Singapore, and Taiwan.

For more information see the MapPoint Web Service Regional Coverage page on Microsoft.com.

New Features in MWS 4.0

The MapPoint Web Service added a number of cool new features with version 4.0 including LineDrive maps which were formerly available only on MSN MapPoint. Other new features include a night-time map style, support for polygons, a feed for real-time traffic incidents, and better batch geocoding systen and improved find accuracy settings.

Chris Pendleton delivered a web cast outlining these and other recently added features in detail which is archived on Livemeeting.

MapPoint Partner Spotlight - SpatialPoint

Last week we asked David Klein of SpatialPoint some questions about the MapPoint Web Service and MWS 4.0.

What can you tell us about SpatialPoint? How did the company originate and what products and services do you provide?

We started SpatialPoint because we saw a significant customer demand and need for location solutions that deliver business benefits without the cost and complexity of traditional GIS. We found MapPoint the ideal platform for meeting the needs of this customer segment. We use MapPoint to build, host and support Web-based and desktop solutions. 

What advice would you give to a company looking to add the MapPoint Web Service to their web site or application and
how can SpatialPoint help?

First I would make sure they understand the full opportunity MapPoint Web Service presents to them. It’s really an elegant platform from both a functionality and economic perspective. Because we know the MapPoint platform inside and out and can draw on our experience with other customers, we can help a company in many ways. We can build and host their application, estimate the number of transactions they will use, help identify and integrate with other business processes that could benefit from MWS, and provide support and service.

Describe a typical client with whom you have helped implement MWS. Can you give an example of an atypical client or most interesting implementation of MWS that you have worked on?

A typical application is some type of online locator. We’ve built many of these for companies such as T-Mobile, M&T Bank, Prudential Financial and others. Beyond that we’ve had a number of interesting scenarios, including integrating MapPoint Web Service into Marriott’s eCommerce reservation system. Another example is Choice Hotels International. They use our Proximity Analyzer with MapPoint Web Service to respond to corporate customer RFPs, quickly showing they have the hotel location and amenities to meet customers’ needs. Another interesting example is a cell coverage locator application we’re working on with a major wireless carrier.

What new features in MWS 4.0 do you see as being most useful to companies and application developers?

One of the standout features that is both useful and aesthetic is the LineDrive feature, which creates ‘back-of-the-napkin’ maps and directions. They’re very easy to understand and take usability of Internet-based mapping and directions programs to an entire new level. Polygon support will open up new application possibilities and on the nuts and bolts side of things is an improved geocoding interface.

SpatialPoint is known for its deep mapping/GIS software background and expertise. As Microsoft adds more features such as polygon overlays directly into the MWS product which you used to accomplish the SpatialPoint's own proprietary technology, how do continue to distinguish yourselves? 

The way all successful companies distinguish themselves: by staying ahead of the curve and anticipating new customer needs. As Microsoft continues to add more features, there will be a greater need for experts who know how to take advantage of those features to achieve business benefit — and to extend those features and functions. Polygons are a good example. While Microsoft has provided some support for polygons, SpatialPoint offers customers greater flexibility in using and managing complex polygons. It really presents more opportunity for us.

Looking forward, can you comment on what effect you see Microsoft’s Virtual Earth technology might have on the MWS product?

I would imagine the line between Virtual Earth and MWS blurring very rapidly in the near future. If that’s the case, it’s only good news for customers and for Microsoft’s own competitive position.

Links for for more information -

    SpatialPoint Web Site
    Microsoft Resources for Partners

Get Published in MP2K Magazine

If you have a MapPoint presentation, neat programming technique, or would simply like to share the ways in which you are using MapPoint technology or any other ideas, contact us to discuss how we can turn your knowledge into an article and share your experience with the rest of the MapPoint community of users and developers.

Writers often plug their consulting service or other business interest through their bio which appears at the bottom of the article. Others do it for the Large MapPoint Mug (see right!). Whatever the reason, it is rewarding to share and take credit for the knowledge you share with the rest of the community.

Articles

This document lists the new features in MWS 4.0 and answers questions about the licensing model and pricing, the partner program, MapPoint Location Server, and Virtual Earth.

"What are the new features of MapPoint Web Service version 4.0?

Polygons. The new polygon data source allows MapPoint Web Service customers to define and render a region on a map. Customers can then use this region to find relations to other polygons, point data sources, addresses and specific geographic locations. Common uses of polygons include defining neighborhoods, delivery areas, cell-phone coverage and territories. The MapPoint Web Service will offer a polygon-creation tool and several command-line tools for converting existing ESRI, MapInfo, Autodesk, Intergraph and GML files to the MWS polygon file format. Microsoft Corp. is also offering a COM Add-in for MapPoint 2004 that allows customers to draw their own polygons and save them to the MWS polygon Extensible Markup Language (XML) file format."

Forum Highlights

Friday, October 14th

Use Mappoint ASP.NET whithout mappoint webservice [1 reply]

Thursday, October 13th

Construction Updates [2 replies]
MP2004 Link Update Failed -2147190772 [2 replies]

Wednesday, October 12th

Converting my Windows app. to ASP [6 replies]
MapPoint doesn't work as Window Service [5 replies]
A simple map with a pushpin on click [1 reply]

Tuesday, October 11th

Printing pins that are highlighted in optimized order [2 replies]
Mapping cities with a population over 50K. [3 replies]


Saturday, October 8th

I need to change the cursor to a PushPin icon [5 replies]

Friday, October 7th

Getting Canadian FSAs for Street Addresses [1 reply]
Problem with ObjectsFromPoint [3 replies]

Thursday, October 6th

MapPoint pushpins and zip code heavy hitters [1 reply]
GPS compatability [2 replies]
Terminal Services Scheduled Task [1 reply]

Wednesday, October 5th

TOOL/GPS Menu action [3 replies]
Mass Address/Distance Computation [2 replies]
Importing multiple maps into Excel [3 replies]
Removing City Names [2 replies]

Tuesday, October 4th

Clear/Remove all Pushpins in Mappoint? [4 replies]
Print only pushpins? [1 reply]
OLEVariant conversion [1 reply]

Monday, October 3rd

Adding a PushPin from a Long/Lat position [2 replies]

Wednesday, September 28th

Creating a selected territories map [2 replies]

Tuesday, September 27th

Does anyone know is the the zoom level required to show [2 replies]
Brand new and need help please [2 replies]

Monday, September 26th

Basic - Zip Code Data (Bubble Diagram) [1 reply]
How to get latitude and longitude [3 replies]
Adding Countries to Existing Territories [1 reply]
MapPoint 2004 new version 2006? [8 replies]

Sunday, September 25th

Link Data to Excel update MP resets or can't place address [3 replies]

Saturday, September 24th

Using Mutivariates and Discontinuous Series [2 replies]

Friday, September 23rd

Maps as web pages [2 replies]
Defaulting the setting to shortest instead of quickest [3 replies]
How to get region from a route segment [1 reply]

Thursday, September 22nd

Display setting for Map [1 reply]
Problem saving map to html [1 reply]

Wednesday, September 21st

Exporting Data From Territories [1 reply]
Get Radius of displayed area while using ViewByScale [7 replies]

Tuesday, September 20th

How do I Integrate MapPoint with MSAccess [1 reply]
Distributed desktop application [1 reply]
Does anyone know of a good site for custom pushpins? (nm) [1 reply]
MapPoint updates [1 reply]
Is this possible? [1 reply]

Monday, September 19th

Query Mappoint Visual Basic 6.0 [2 replies]
Shape coordinates [3 replies]
How do I update the value of a field in a recordset? [4 replies]

Saturday, September 17th

Question regarding demographic info [1 reply]

Friday, September 16th

Enhancing Maps [1 reply]
Retreiving longitude and latitude [2 replies]

Thursday, September 15th

Questen about a motor route i have for delivering papers [1 reply]
How to develop a MapPoint Appication [1 reply]
Need Help!!!! How to hide Cities and States Labels on Map? [2 replies]
This recently appeared on MSNBC [1 reply]
Refresh After A Pushpin Has Been Deleted From the Dataset [3 replies]

Wednesday, September 14th

Error using ActiveX control in VB 6 [2 replies]
My first VB 6 App with Mappoint 2004 [1 reply]
Question about a motor route I have for delivering papers [1 reply]
Language Decision [1 reply]
Can't route and I can't see why. [3 replies]
Assertion failed error [2 replies]

Tuesday, September 13th

Automatically Number Pushpin [3 replies]
Neet Points of Interest database [5 replies]

Friday, September 9th

How to parse a german address? [4 replies]
MapPoint hangs when saving map as HTML [3 replies]
Add more then one field to a newly created pushpin to a data [1 reply]

Thursday, September 8th

Retrieve Lat/Lon of a ShaddedCircle [2 replies]

Wednesday, September 7th

Exporting the "show or hide places" [1 reply]
Load lat/long to display in MapPoint [1 reply]

Tuesday, September 6th

How to handle FindNearby results in C++ [1 reply]
Exporting to Excel [2 replies]

Sunday, September 4th

I need it badly. [1 reply]

Friday, September 2nd

Publish Interactive Map to the Web [5 replies]
Game with MapPoint [10 replies]

Thursday, September 1st

Ask for Setup Disc again [5 replies]
How Can Import Street Names To MapPoint? [3 replies]
Prevent user from updating pushpin's name and note text [2 replies]
Automation with C++ (Compile OK but Errors in Linking) [11 replies]

Wednesday, August 31st

Making map of routes with arrowed lines? (like airline maps) [1 reply]
Get Lat/Lon of ShadedCircle [8 replies]

Tuesday, August 30th

Is there any event for when the route is changed? [3 replies]

Monday, August 29th

Getting a Postal Sector from Latitude and Longitude [2 replies]

Saturday, August 27th

Optimize multiple stops [7 replies]

Thursday, August 25th

Huge Number of Drive Times [3 replies]
Link recordset to waypoints [3 replies]

Wednesday, August 24th

Adding a permanent Pushpin/Landmark [1 reply]
Add a newly created Pushpin to Dataset [1 reply]
Setting up macro in excel to extract lat/long from map point [2 replies]

Tuesday, August 23rd

Is MapPoint or something else best to map election returns? [2 replies]
Automate drivetime zones [5 replies]
Can Anyone Help ? ( vb.NET and MapPoint Europe ) [6 replies]
How to identify failed records in the search? [2 replies]
Making Maps Uneditable? [3 replies]
Speed Limit or Street Type [5 replies]
I don't see a part of the route, please help me [8 replies]

Monday, August 22nd

Please helpe me! Unable to start Mappoint without Run-CD [1 reply]
Can't manage to make pushpins invisible/ transparent..... [20 replies]

Friday, August 19th

How To Filter Pushpins????? [3 replies]
Help for a delphi program [13 replies]

Thursday, August 18th

Upgrade Mappoint 2002 [1 reply]
Extracting street names from route Instruction [1 reply]
Finding Center of Data [2 replies]

Wednesday, August 17th

Can Streets and Trips open maps created with MapPoint? [1 reply]
Mexican Maps? Import or Commercial. [2 replies]
New Plugin for Mappoint + Screen shots [3 replies]
Is new datasource MapPointNAICS.NA support findnearby Method [1 reply]
Filtering pushpins..Updating MapPoint by Microsoft Access [3 replies]

Tuesday, August 16th

Creating New Dataset [4 replies]
FindPushpin(Name) [3 replies]
What's the shortest way from one point to another? [3 replies]
MapPoint failed to load... [1 reply]
Updates, Overlays and Zips......Help!! [1 reply]

Monday, August 15th

MapPoint in OleContainer problem //BCB [3 replies]
Updating map in mapcontrol, through secondary thread [1 reply]
Returning results from ShowFindDialog [3 replies]

Sunday, August 14th

Prevent Pushpin/Waypoint deletion [8 replies]

Saturday, August 13th

Attaching Pictures to MapPoint Records [2 replies]

Friday, August 12th

Pushpin Selection [2 replies]
can I get demographic data at 1, 3, and 5 mile radius? [4 replies]

Thursday, August 11th

UDF in Excel [2 replies]
Optimizing a lot of stops [7 replies]

Wednesday, August 10th

Find closest between two sets of addresses? [2 replies]
Add a bitmap to Mappoint control [2 replies]

Tuesday, August 9th

Blank Map available? [1 reply]
Extract National Forests, Parks, and Wilderness Areas? [1 reply]

Monday, August 8th

Displaying The Route Planner [4 replies]

Sunday, August 7th

Records that I want to convert to itn files [4 replies]

Friday, August 5th

MapPoint 2004 and PinsToFile [7 replies]
Creating a subset of Pushpins from a set of pushpins [3 replies]

Thursday, August 4th

Change Screen to Night Mode [3 replies]
Update on Basemaps [1 reply]

Wednesday, August 3rd

Does an object reside in my Shape or Shape boundaries? [1 reply]

Tuesday, August 2nd

App to Monitor Real time applications (GPS) [4 replies]
MapPoint 2004 trial for Australia [1 reply]
Importdata to shaded areas [4 replies]
MapPoint WebService Vs MapPoint Location Server [1 reply]

Monday, August 1st

FindCS WebService SDK Sample [1 reply]
Do WebService SDK Samples work for Australia [1 reply]
Hardware requirements [1 reply]

Sunday, July 31st

How to change default map size? [1 reply]
Displaying a label with each pushpin [3 replies]
How can I get the territory code that a pushipin is located [6 replies]

Saturday, July 30th

Trying to adjust the ActiveMap to display all waypoints [1 reply]
Zoom IN to show all pushpins in one screen [3 replies]
Having the driver always be visible [2 replies]

Wednesday, July 27th

Increase the number of colours in the colour pallet [1 reply]
Retail locations data [1 reply]

Tuesday, July 26th

Numbering route pushpins [5 replies]

Monday, July 25th

GPS simulation [1 reply]

Saturday, July 23rd

Help with differences between vb6 and vb .Net [1 reply]

Friday, July 22nd

MapPoint OLE error: "Could not update object" [1 reply]

Thursday, July 21st

Toobars / Menul [1 reply]
Using routes and highlighting route [1 reply]
Customization possible?? [1 reply]

Wednesday, July 20th

Overlay two separate routes [1 reply]
OLE Delphi 6 Novice [4 replies]

Tuesday, July 19th

Trying to get the MapPoint.Location at a mouse event [6 replies]
Getting a MapPoint.Location from a set of coordinates [2 replies]
Custom symbols [1 reply]

Monday, July 18th

MapPoint + network monitor [1 reply]
To know when user click in dataset [1 reply]

Sunday, July 17th

Send zip code & distance, receive list of zips back? [1 reply]

Saturday, July 16th

MapPoint Automation with C/C++ - Part 2 [1 reply]
 

Additional posts and topics since the last newsletter summary can be found in the MapPoint forums. Search by using the forum's search functionality or the google search link at the bottom of each forum page.

Previous issues of the MP2Kmag Update are available in the newsletter archive.