MapPoint 2009 / Streets & Trips 2009
It's official! We're releasing an update to the desktop products MapPoint 2009 (Desktop Business Intelligence Mapping and Analysis Tool) and Streets & Trips 2009 (Desktop Consumer Trip Planning). Contrary to the release of MapPoint 2006, there are quite a few more features and a whole new interface. MapPoint 2009 will be available September 1, 2008. Streets & Trips will be available in early October at your favorite retailer. For those who don't know, Streets & Trips has a subset of MapPoint functionality, but if you just want offline trip planning software S&T is the way to go. And, for the Aussies, no, there is still no Australian version - just North America and Europe. I know, I know.
Here's a full list of feature enhancements:
- Improved Live Search integration
- Over 1.5 million POI embedded in the products
- Single search box
- Enhanced POI result set with links to Live Maps yellow page and information details send to mobile integration
- Send to Mobile
- SMS messaging via Outlook
- Location information sent directly to your mobile device
- Link to Live Mobile
- Updated/Improved user interface
- Updated icons throughout the site
- Toolbar redesign
- Pane consistency
- MapPoint Office 12 compatibility
- Ability to upload Office 2007 Word and Excel file formats
- Entertainment Online
- FREE 14 day trial membership for savings in restaurants, hotels, special events, and more
- Coupons available in U.S. and Canada
- Search for coupons by area and category
- Link to Entertainment Online site
- Additional improvements
- Updated map data and information on more than 1.5 million locations
- New, sleek GPS device (puck) for MapPoint North America
- Streamlined product installation and activation
- Configurable spoken street names and automatic re-routing
- 2.5D improvements (zoom to turn, indicator icon, etc)
- Updated Live Search for Windows Mobile install package included on the DVD
As you can see, jam packed with cool stuff.
MapPoint 2009 has a lot of upside with the software part of Microsoft's software plus services strategy, but it remains upside. Can someone build me a Virtual Earth com add in please? If not, I'll do it myself. I mean really, how hard would it be?
And, you gotta love The Matrix Map (read as Night Time Map).
CP