Hi,

Can someone explain to me (in simple english) what exacly the 'mappoint web service' is and what the possibilities are ? It is not very clear to me.

Hi Wilfried,

I'll give it a shot

First, you need a subscription to access it.. you need credentials / an account / a login and password, all ways to say the same thing.

What it is is a map server / map generator farm some miles from Redmond. With your subscription you can programmatically ask the map farm to spit you back a gif image. You can ask for a map around a specific location, a store, or a lat/lon.

You can call it from just about anything that can call a web service -- just about any development environment has a library these days for calling a web service. VS .NET products (VB .NET, C# .NET, etc) have great web service support as well as ASP .NET, but even the Palm OS, classic ASP, VBA/VB6, can call a web service. So, from any of these varied environments, you can programmatically "get" maps and mapping functionality without installing any mapping software, i.e. a light client.

Probably the most well-known use of the MapPoint Web Service is to be the mapping engine behind retail store locators on company web sites such as at www.Starbucks.com, it also powers maps.msn.com.

hopefully this helps although I'm sure someone else can explain it better or more succinctly.
Eric

Wilfried: There was a recent article in C/C++ Users Journal about programming it:

http://www.mp2kmag.com/mappoint/disc...pic.asp?t=6462


Richard

www.microsoft.com/mappoint/webservice

In addition to the details Eric already provided, Our website is a really good source of information on the MapPoint Web Service, including use cases, features, technical info, etc...

regards,

Steve Lombardi
MapPoint Technical Evangelist
stevelom@microsoft.com

http://www.microsoft.com/mappoint

Where is Steve? Find out at:
http://www.whatididwaswrong.com/whereissteve/

Check out the MapPoint Dev Center- http://www.msdn.com/mappoint

Hi,

Thank you all for splendid information This seems exacly what I very soon will need. Let me explain:

Very soon we have miniature GPS/GSM OEM device. It even works _behind_ the seat of a car (no visible to the sky) and has motion detection. As soon as it move it send GPS report to a programmed GSM with SMS message.

I have to make program with mappoint to follow vehicle. This will be sold and also hired. Have already potential customars. Most are detectives and people in divorce

On the other hand I probably have to make a webservice where customar can login and check his vehicles to follow over the web. I'm not sure if I do it with browser or a 'light' application. I personnally prefer latter becasue I assume mutch more possibilities. Can you advice here also ?

So I think I need the web service and also location server. However I'm not sure if I really need the latter. Additional advice is always welcome of course

I'm looking at licencing prices. Not all is very clear to me. As far as I understeand is:
- form becoming a partner almost 3000 dollar a year.
- per transaction .00xx usd
- location server around 2500 usd, but only 1 time pay

Have I understeand this correct ?

Hi,

Now the main rgand question at the momen. Can I do the same with the mappoint web service ad with Mappoint ?

There are a lot of checap map ww service applications but they just dont do what I want. Mappoint web service is expecnive but if it give the same possibilities as deliver a custom made Mappoint application to a customar then it is not expencive of course.

Unfortinally the microsoft webside only tell commericial things and not what you can and cannot. so any help is appreciated.

Hi,

Now the main urgand question at the moment. Can I do the same with the mappoint web service as with Mappoint ?

There are a lot of cheap map ww service applications but they just dont do what I want. Mappoint web service is expecnive but if it give the same possibilities as deliver a custom made Mappoint application to a customar then it is not so expencive of course.

Unfortinally the microsoft webside only tell commericial things and not what you can and cannot. so any help is appreciated.[/quote]

Sign up for the developer trial.. most all the important functionality is there and even what's not there can often be built on top. The MWS 4.0 version added a lot of cool features including support for polygons.
Eric

Hi Eric,

Ok, but I haveto convince some mangers this is the way to go. At Microsoft no site tlell me what exacly I can do with it.

there are a lot of sites useable for fleet management and cost almost nothing. Microsofft web serivice is very expencive an maybe goodie but at least I have to know what I can do with it

Problem is that I have to give report to managers by tomorrow
l.... I apprechiate all your help !

Wilfried,

Here's my original post about that magazine article I spoke of in my email:

http://www.mp2kmag.com/mappoint/disc...pic.asp?t=6462

It does cover some of what is possible. If you can't find anything useful on the MS site then it might be a good start?


Richard