Will there be a MapPoint 2005? If so, will the API be more developer friendly?

It seem obvious that the MapPoint API is intentionally crippled for non-technical reasons, like protecting ISV partners from independant developers and promoting the MapPoint Web Service, all of which is discouraging to long-time MS developers like myself. I always liked MS because I thought they pampered their developer community. Clearly, something has changed - at least for the coorporate and independant developer.

Regarding the web service, there are desktop/network applications that shouldn't depend on internet connectivity and/or can't tolerate the latency inherent with internet connections. A MapPoint Server product with automatic updating and appropriate licensing/subscription fees combined with a robust and unrestricted API for client development seems a more appropriate platform for coorporate developement.

But my sense is that none of that is going to happen.

Thoughts/ Comments?

Thanks.

Matt Fritz
mfritz@charmer.com

when will be mappoint 2005 ? in July 2005?

I spent many years working for a computer manufacturer and consulting for others, none of whom are in business today. The problem is that the manufacturer and this includes Microsoft, does not understand or respect the investment that a customer makes in his product. He changes the product without warning or asking the customer base, discontinues products willy nilly, and comes out with new, improved products which give the customer's competitors a head start, but don't furnish an upgrade path to the old cusomers.

It would appear that Microsoft is about to throw their MapPoint customers to the wolves in favor of a more profitable albeit less useful product MapPoint .Net. If you go to their website, Microsoft explains why a developer should use .NET, but I can't see why I should throw out three years of programming for the "newest best thing", that doesn't work in my application. The only thing going for .net is that it has the same new maps that Streets and Trips gets.

My customers are asking when Microsoft is coming out with a new map. They see Streets and Trips 2005 at their local Costco for $20. I tell them as soon as I find another vendor for maps that appreciates their customers, I'm switching.

Fortunately, my customers are switching to Lat/Long for locating and the old maps work just as well as the new ones. It's just that it makes me look like I picked the wrong horse to ride.

John

John,

Have you seen the information about how to integrate S&T data with MapPoint?

Also, I don't think the boxed/desktop version of MapPoint is going away, from all indications they are working on a new version.

Eric

Originally Posted by Eric Frost

John,

Have you seen the information about how to integrate S&T data with MapPoint?

Also, I don't think the boxed/desktop version of MapPoint is going away, from all indications they are working on a new version.

Eric

HOW do I integrate S&T data? Most of the web postings have expitred.

John

There's an article about how to do it with AutoRoute 2003 and MapPoint EU 2002 in the articles section... the procedure would be the same.

Eric

I just copied data from S&T 2005 to MapPoint 2004. It works! Thank god too, as there are a number of streets missing from the 2004 data that now show up! Yahoo!

Originally Posted by Eric Frost

There's an article about how to do it with AutoRoute 2003 and MapPoint EU 2002 in the articles section... the procedure would be the same.

Eric

I tried it and it works like a charm. I now can tell where all of the new highways are. Many thanks

While I was at it, I bought the GPS version of S&T. It also works like a charm. I highly recommend it. Again, many thanks.

John

PS The location to Lat/Long conversion routine put me into business. Now with the 2005 upgrade, Microsoft has kept me in business. My competitors can't keep up.