Microsoft MapPoint

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Microsoft MapPoint

Microsoft MapPoint North America 2001
Developer:	Microsoft
Latest release:	MapPoint 2006 / August 2006
OS:	Microsoft Windows
Use:	Gis software
License:	Proprietary EULA
Website:	Microsoft MapPoint Home

Three maps generated by MapPoint North America 2001 (outside the detailed dataset), Encarta 2005 (not very detailed) and Microsoft AutoRoute 2004 (highly detailed).

Microsoft MapPoint is both a technology and a specific software program created by Microsoft yearly that allows users to view, edit and integrate maps. This mapping software is designed to visualize and analyze either included data or custom data geographically.

MapPoint is intended for business users but competes in the low-end GIS market. It includes all of the functionality of Microsoft Streets and Trips as well as integration with Microsoft Office, data mapping from various sources including Microsoft Excel and a Visual Basic for Applications (VBA) interface allowing automation of the MapPoint environment.

The MapPoint technology is used in:

End-user software:
- MapPoint (for North American and Western European business users)
- AutoRoute (for Western European for home and small business users)
- Microsoft Streets and Trips (for North American average home users)
- Encarta encyclopedia
Web-based services:
- The MapPoint web service
- The Microsoft Maps website mappoint.msn.com
- The MSN-based Virtual Earth virtual globe service.

Microsoft MapPoint as a software is updated yearly. The most current version of the software is MapPoint 2006.

The software is available for Microsoft Windows, and includes a less-featured edition entitled Pocket Streets for the Windows CE 5 family of products, such as Pocket PC, Smartphone, and Windows Automotive.