Bing Maps Platform: The latest release

 

The Bing Maps Platform brings location data to life by making it easier to visualize, understand, and analyze. The rich imagery, quality geospatial data, and cutting-edge technology of Bing Maps is already being used by thousands of organizations, governments, and developers worldwide. Now, with this latest release, it’s more powerful, faster, and easier to get started, thanks to improvements in three fundamental areas:

 

• UNPRECEDENTED INNOVATION — Bing Maps now includes a Silverlight Control, so the rich, multimedia benefits native to Silverlight, like embedded video, can now be integrated into Bing Maps.
• PLATFORM PERFORMANCE — Our commitment to fast and accurate performance for users across the world continues with this latest release.
• EASY TO GET ON BOARD — It’s now easy for non-profits, education, and small sites to put Bing Maps on the Web for free,* and for all developers to get started with the API that suits them best.

 

UNPRECEDENTED INNOVATION:

 

The Bing Maps Platform is now more powerful than ever—with innovations for .NET, Silverlight, and Javascript developers, as well as for customers, Web agencies, non-profits, and educators.

 

Announcing the Bing Maps Silverlight Control

 

The introduction of the Silverlight Map Control (previously released in Community Technology Preview) adds a new option for developers to create immersive, online mapping experiences that bring Web sites to life.

• Engaging online mapping experiences. Now developers can deliver high performance imagery complete with the rich capabilities of Silverlight, including Deep Zoom, multimedia support, fly-through, scaling views of landmarks and properties, continuous panning around the globe with “world wrap,” and more.
• Great performance. Silverlight allows for fast all-around performance, including fast zooming and the ability to render a large number of points and polygons on a map.
• Rich user experience. The Bing Maps Silverlight Control is built on Silverlight 3, so there’s support for "out of browser" desktop-based apps and support for development using Microsoft Expression Blend.
• Basic scripting interface. This new feature allows JavaScript developers to create basic Silverlight applications using JavaScript instead of managed code.

 

PLATFORM PERFORMANCE:

 

The Bing Maps Platform has a commitment to delivering great performance. And that unrelenting commitment is reaffirmed with this latest release.

 

Geocoding and search updates for better results

 

• Find what you’re looking for. Find the addresses and businesses you’re looking for, with improved search and geocoding capabilities in Germany, the U.K., and the US.

 

Staying ahead of demands with data centers across the world

 

As organizations expand their global reach and the number of end users across the world grows, we’re committed to staying ahead of users’ needs.

 

• Fast load and response times. Our growing network of global data centers brings both services and content closer to end users, providing increased overall platform performance for all controls and across geographies.

 

EASY TO GET ON BOARD:

 

With this new release, choice is the name of the game when it comes to licensing.

 

• Free licensing programs for non-profits and educators. . As part of our commitment to the community, use is now free for public-facing, non-password protected sites with the new terms of use for educators and non-profits.*
• Free licensing for small Web sites. It’s now even easier to get started with Bing Maps—use is now free for public-facing, non-password protected Web sites with up to 125,000 user sessions per year.*
• Trial offer for all users. Take advantage of the full set of imagery and services with the free 90-day trial offer for all users for commercial evaluations, partner prototyping, and more.*
• Simple, embedded maps. Use new straightforward ways of embedding AJAX or Silverlight maps for free on your Web site.*

 

Take the next step

 

Find out about licensing options or to begin incorporating the latest features of the Bing Maps Platform, get a Bing Maps account.

 

 

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Microsoft announces new agreement with DigitalGlobe.

 

Microsoft and DigitalGlobe have agreed to a mapping partnership that will deliver significant benefits to Bing Maps, Search, and its customers, including high-resolution contiguous imagery coverage of the United States and Western Europe. Read more about this project.

 

National Geographic digitizes 120 years of magazines and uses Bing Maps for geobrowse function.

 

National Geographic is publishing 120 years’ worth of its magazines onto a six-DVD set or external hard drive. This collection of every issue of National Geographic magazine incorporates Bing Maps as geobrowse functionality, allowing users to browse a map anywhere in the world to find references to relevant articles, based on a specific location. Read more about the digitized collection.

 

Bing Maps announces global sponsorship of the NAVTEQ LBS Challenge.

 

Bing Maps will be a global sponsor of the NAVTEQ LBS Challenge, meaning developers will be able to enter the contest with applications built using the Bing Maps Platform. Learn more about the NAVTEQ LBS Challenge.

 

Distressed property Web site upgrades mapping to enhance customer experience.

 

Foreclosure.com wanted to make it even easier for its 6.5 million monthly visitors to search its 1.8 million residential distressed property listings. To offer users a simpler interface, a more compelling experience, and advanced mapping features, Foreclosure.com integrated its Web site with the Bing Maps Platform. Read the complete case study.

 

Bing Maps is nominated for ‘Best Estate and Letting Agency Technology Provider’.

 

A steering committee of various estate agents, who are members of the NAEA, decided the nominations for this award. Voters will include the 5,000 estate and lettings agents attending the Property Professional Show in May 2010. The winner will be announced at the gala dinner, hosted by Ruby Wax. Get more details.

 

National Policing Improvement Agency uses Bing Maps for crime mapping in England and Wales.

 

Using Bing Maps on its Web site, the National Policing Improvement Agency (NPIA) introduces crime mapping for England and Wales. Residents can search for a village, town, or postcode to access the latest information on a range of crime types and compare with other neighborhoods. See the site in action.

 

 

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