Comparison

From MapElves

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Microsoft got involved with computer mapping back in the mid-nineties with the consumer mapping products Encarta, Streets & Trips, and AutoRoute. (Add information about AutoRoute acquisition). These products still exist, but none of these can be automated or controlled via an API and thus are not as interesting for developers.

Microsoft first announced MapPoint 2000 back in April 1999 and was intended to be a developer product which could be integrated with applications and automated via a Visual Basic API. In addition, higher-end GIS features came to be added such as drive-time polygons and territories. Microsoft continued to actively develop the MapPoint CD platform through 2001 with the release of MapPoint 2002. With this release, the API became more fully fleshed out and is essentially the basis for the MapPoint CD releases (MapPoint 2004 and MapPoint 2006) since that time with very minor API changes made since MapPoint 2002.

MapPoint Web Service

- most similar to MapQuest
- originally MapPoint .NET
- acquisition of Vicinity / MapBlast

Microsoft Virtual Earth and Windows Live Local

- most similar to Google Maps
- acquisitions and partnerships related to fleshing out the Virtual Earth platform