MapPoint Client Updated

MapPoint 2006, an incremental update to Microsoft’s desktop mapping client for businesses, is now available in the United States, with a European version to follow in the summer of 2006. Meanwhile, Microsoft’s separate MapPoint Web service is being moved to the newer Virtual Earth platform.

The MapPoint client has traditionally targeted mobile workers and Office users who need to locate addresses or visualize and analyze mapped data, such as sales territories or revenue by geography. MapPoint 2006 includes new mapping data and improvements for mobile workers, such as location detection based on local Wi-Fi hotspots, voice-based driving directions, and a new edition bundled with a GPS receiver. However, like past versions, the geographic data in the MapPoint client is static, and the client does not connect to Microsoft’s MapPoint Web service or to the newer Virtual Earth platform. In addition, while some map data has been updated—particularly European maps—other information, such as Canadian demographic information, has been removed.