MapForums

March 2007

In the News

Microsoft’s Virtual Earth powers Conoco Phillips’ Station Locator and Trip Planning
Conoco Phillips has incorporated Microsoft’s Virtual Earth platform into their online gas station locator and “Plan A Trip” feature, allowing their customers to plan out their travel prior to the trip. Conoco Phillips selected Microsoft Virtual Earth to power their mapping offerings because of the extensive mapping experience and the immersive imagery Virtual Earth offered. To access these maps and see how Conoco Phillips has incorporated the Virtual Earth platform into their offering, please visit ConocoPhillips.

Target chooses Microsoft Virtual Earth to power their Store Locator feature
Target recently selected the Microsoft Virtual Earth platform to power their online store locator mapping feature, now offering its customers aerial imagery that gives them a view the store from bird’s-eye view, helping them recognize the area it is located in. Try this new feature on Target’s site at Target : Store Locator : Store Locator

Pro-Teck Valuation Services Integrates with Microsoft Virtual Earth
On March 20, Pro-Teck, a provider of real estate collateral valuation and risk management solutions, announced it has integrated the Microsoft Virtual Earth platform into its service. The integration enhances Pro-Teck's quality assurance and end products with aerial and satellite imagery of properties and neighborhoods across the USA. Virtual Earth imagery further enhances the quality and detail of information provided in Pro-Teck's valuation products. To find out more, please take a look at the official press release at:
Pro-Teck Valuation Services :: Pro-Teck Valuation Services Integrates with Microsoft Virtual Earth

Bridgestone’s Emergency Navigator now powered by Microsoft Virtual Earth
On March 21, Bridgestone Tires launched their Emergency Navigator offering using the Virtual Earth platform. B.E.N, which is backed by the strongest dealer and truck stop network in the business, helps get customers from where they are to where they need to go in an emergency, all powered by Microsoft Virtual Earth. For more information please visit their website at www.bridgestonetrucktires.com.

Microsoft Virtual Earth UK holds Partner Day
On March 21, the UK Microsoft Virtual Earth team held a Partner Day for software developers and content providers who are working with MapPoint and Virtual Earth technology to provide customer solutions in a variety of vertical markets. More than 20 partners attended the event to exchange technical knowledge and learn more about each other’s Virtual Earth mashups. Johannes Kebeck, Technical Specialist for Microsoft Virtual Earth, EMEA & APAC, delivered technical insight on Virtual Earth to partners whilst Dr. Neil Roodyn, founder of http://www.viavirtualearth.com, gave a presentation on the importance of the developer community and Virtual Earth mashups.

Farallon Geographics maps out the city of Boston using Microsoft Virtual Earth
On March 21, Farallon Geographics announced its completion of the 2D and 3D map, which they created for the City of Boston’s economic development agency, using the Microsoft Virtual Earth platform, to help the city of Boston effectively manage the review process for new City development projects. A great case study that highlights the mapping platform created for the City of Boston’s economic development agency can be found at GIS, Spatial Information Management and Location Technology Case Studies.
Press Release: GISuser.com GIS, GPS, LBS, CAD, mapping news, jobs, software, data, community

CH2M HILL Announces Expansion of Its Enterprise-Wide IT Relationship with Microsoft Virtual Earth
On March 22, the world’s largest privately held spatial company, CH2M HILL, announced the integration of the Virtual Earth platform into the suite of spatial management services that their customers are provided through their Enterprise Spatial Solutions practice. Customers of CH2M HILL now have the ability to use the immersive mapping features of Virtual Earth in the Enterprise Spatial Solutions practice.
Press Release: CH2M HILL Announces Expansion of Its Enterprise-Wide IT Relationship With Microsoft

TripHub integrates Microsoft Virtual Earth into its trip planning mashup
On March 26, TripHub made its Trip Planning mash-up available to consumers, which uses the Virtual Earth platform to help seamlessly integrate local search to aid in the discovery of nearby services and attractions like restaurants, museums, theme parks, night clubs, and other points of interest. Virtual Earth enables consumers to easily discover, share, and visualize location data and locally relevant information.
Press Release: TripHub Launches Shared Trip Maps to Help Get Everyone to the Right Place at the Right Time

Microsoft and InfoNow Join Forces
On March 27, Microsoft and InfoNow announced an agreement to provide the Microsoft Virtual Earth mapping capabilities to more than 20 million customers worldwide who access InfoNow LocationInsight each month to gain information and find businesses and business services such as store locations, branch offices and automatic teller machines (ATMs). Through this partnership, InfoNow will extend the reach of the Virtual Earth platform to several global companies such as Visa, Shell and Bank of America, and will provide those companies and customers with immersive mapping features to help find, discover and explore a specific location.
Press Release: Microsoft and InfoNow Join Forces to Help People More Easily Find Businesses and Access Business Services: InfoNow to integrate Microsoft Virtual Earth within its LocationInsight offering so financial, retail, manufacturing and services companies can

E•SPONDER integrates with Microsoft Virtual Earth
In March, E•SPONDER, a customizable software solution now has the capability to take any SharePoint list or address and display both individual records and entire lists all within the Microsoft Virtual Earth platform. To learn more about this integration please go to E·SPONDER: The Solution For Real-Time Collaboration Needs.

My Parks & Services web site integrates the Microsoft Virtual Earth platform
In March, MyParksandRecreation.com, an online service that allows consumers to search and register for parks and recreational activities in the Washington state area will now use the Microsoft Virtual Earth platform to provide the mapping component of their service. Overall, the goal is to provide convenient service and information for residents, businesses and visitors and they felt the Virtual Earth platform was the best mapping platform for their site because of its immersive aerial and bird’s-eye imagery capabilities. To find out more information, please go to Parks Search Form.

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