Posted on Tuesday, October 16 2007 @ 17:19 CEST by Thomas De Maesschalck
Microsoft made several updates to its Live Search services:
Maps and Directions:
Innovative driving directions. The new Live Search offers more
accurate and easy-to-use driving directions, including dynamic
rerouting of directions based on real-time traffic information, one-
click directions that allow drivers to get only essential directions
to their destination with no starting point needed, and inline hints
that tell drivers if they have gone too far based on local
landmarks. Combined with new, one-page printing, these new
enhancements have taken driving directions to the next level.
Innovative visualization and 3-D. Coverage of bird's-eye and 3-D
imagery has been increased to cover 80 percent of the U.S.
population. In addition, nearly 200 complete cities are available in
3-D, and customers can now combine views of 3-D imagery with Live
Search's unique 45-degree bird's-eye images, giving a complete and
detailed geolocation experience. In addition, people who use Live
Search Maps can create and share their own 3-D models of buildings
through an alliance with Dassault Systemes.
Innovative local content index including user-generated content. The
new local search capabilities in Live Search include not only a
broad set of expert sources but also broad access to user-generated
content from Live Search and from across the entire Web, through
searchable user-created collections and Keyhole Markup Language
(KML) support.
Virtual Earth platform updates. The Virtual Earth platform is
the underlying technology behind well over 1,000 partner mapping
solutions as well as Live Search Maps. Updates in version 6.0 of
Virtual Earth include multipoint trip routing; enhanced geocoding
that combines results for multiple geocoders; rooftop geocoding,
which provides more precise geocoding results; map control support
for Safari 2.0; and the release of MapCruncher beta, making it
easier to publish maps overlaid in an application using the Virtual
Earth map control. More details on the Virtual Earth platform can be
found at http://dev.live.com/virtualearth.
Mobile Enhancements
Live Search for Windows Mobile with voice input. The updated Live
Search for Windows Mobile 5.0 and 6.0 will be available for
download for free on Tuesday, Oct. 16, and now includes voice input
(beta version), gas prices, and hours of operation for businesses.
The service can also use Global Positioning System (GPS) data on
GPS-enabled phones to provide location-aware local search for
customers.
Live Search 411. Jointly developed with Tellme Networks Inc.,
acquired by Microsoft earlier this year, a new toll-free number will
be available for anyone using any kind of phone to access the power
of Live Search. Users can simply dial (800) CALL-411 (800-225-5411)
and say the city and state, then ask for the business or business
category to hear a list of options. Users say, "Connect me," to
instantly connect to the business. Cell phone users can ask for a
text message with a link to a map of the business.
Live Search for use with BlackBerry Devices. Live Search designed
for use with BlackBerry devices is in beta and will be available for
download for free on Tuesday, Oct. 16. It is a new offering designed
for use on BlackBerry OS 4.0.2 or later phones, and customers with
GPS-enabled phones can use location awareness to enhance their
searches.
