Microsoft MapPoint is a discontinued software program and service created by
Microsoft that allows users to view, edit and integrate maps. The software
and technology are designed to facilitate the geographical
visualization and analysis of either included data or custom data. Numerous
acquisitions have supplemented both data and feature integration.
MapPoint is intended for business users but competes in the low-end geographic
information system market. It includes all of the functionality of the most
recent version of Streets and Trips, the consumer mapping software, at the time
of development, as well as integration with Microsoft Office, data mapping from
various sources including Microsoft Excel and a Visual Basic for
Applications interface allowing automation of the MapPoint environment.
The MapPoint technology is also used in Microsoft Streets and Trips, Microsoft
AutoRoute, Encarta's atlas functionality, Bing Maps and Bing Maps
Platform. MapPoint, along with its companions
Streets & Trips and Autoroute, will be officially discontinued on December 31,
2014 with product support to continue "until at least July 2015". Bing Maps is
being represented as the replacement/alternative to MapPoint.
Versions Microsoft MapPoint as the software is
typically updated every two years and available in both upgrade and full
packaged product form; the current and final version is 2013. Previous versions
were released starting with 2000, which was slated to be included in the Office
2000 Premium Edition suite, but never was.
MapPoint 2000, initial release MapPoint 2001, very similar to 2000;
more of a data update MapPoint 2002, updated interface to
Office XP style MapPoint 2004, last version to run on
Windows 9x MapPoint 2006, significantly updated GPS
integration and features, last version supported on Windows 2000
MapPoint 2009, updated interface with bigger icons, core engine remains the
same MapPoint 2010, many user and API
enhancements, including the ability to show/hide map symbols and labels by type
MapPoint 2011, significantly updated map data and points of interest
MapPoint 2013, updated interface with Metro-style icons, updated map data and
points of interest, added support for reviews and ratings
New versions have not always been at the same time as the equivalent Office
releases despite being numbered similarly; notably the 2002 release was
excluded from the Office XP suites due to a lack of equivalent programmability,
and 2006 was released well before Office 2007. The program's icon and toolbars
were not updated until the 2009 release to stay consistent with modern software
applications. Version 2009 sporting an overhauled
interface and claimed better Office integration was released in late 2008.
The core map rendering engine remained the same and the GIS data was not
updated as recently as one might expect of a product released in 2008, leaving
out subdivisions, roads and other features that were completed in 2007 and
which are shown on online mapping systems. Further, the 2009 version
replaced all built-in icons with icons that were mostly brown or darker colors.
This made them difficult to see on the map and resulted in users trying to
restore the icon sets from version 2006. Old versions 2004 and 2006 both included
336 pushpin symbols. The 2009 version replaced these symbols with a new set of
46 pushpins. A new template can be used to add missing pushpin images to the
program. The full range of pushpins were reintroduced in MapPoint 2010.
The software is available for Microsoft Windows, and includes a less-featured
edition entitled Pocket Streets for the Windows CE family of products, such as
Pocket PC, and Windows Mobile for Smartphone and Automotive.
Online In 2002, Microsoft launched a free
online MapPoint service. This was superseded by MSN Maps, Live Search
Maps, and Bing Maps. Alternatives to MapPoint
Maptitude Badger Maps
eSpatial See also
Maptitude RegioGraph
References External links
Official website