Microsoft MapPoint Looking for Pricing Advice

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Tim O'Reilly
Mar. 03, 2004 11:55 AM
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After giving up on seeing location-related web services from AOL/MapQuest (I started nagging them years ago), I've switched my evangelism to Microsoft, who at least understands that location-based services are one of the great next generation platform opportunities. As part of that advocacy, I've been nagging the folks over at Microsoft MapPoint about the need to have a "hacker-friendly" entry point for their location-related web services. My premise is that a lot of innovation comes not from entrepreneurs and companies ready to put the stuff to use, but from hackers who are just having fun. Microsoft's current pricing model, which more or less amounts to "a salesperson will call you", isn't very innovation-friendly, even though Microsoft does offer limited time evaluation accounts.

So I was heartened to see that Microsoft is now soliciting input on options for a lower entry-point pricing model. Unfortunately, the options they're putting out as examples don't float my boat, but it indicates they are thinking about the problem. (Microsoft has pointed out to me privately that as a data aggregator, they have real costs from third parties for every transaction. Still, I think Microsoft has enough money to float a little hacker R&D. But I imagine the problem is that it has to come out of someone's budget, and that means awareness of the demand and the importance of some level of free access needs to be higher on their radar.)

Tim O'Reilly is the founder and CEO of O'Reilly Media, Inc., thought by many to be the best computer book publisher in the world. In addition to Foo Camps ("Friends of O'Reilly" Camps, which gave rise to the "un-conference" movement), O'Reilly Media also hosts conferences on technology topics, including the Web 2.0 Summit, the Web 2.0 Expo, the O'Reilly Open Source Convention, the Gov 2.0 Summit, and the Gov 2.0 Expo. Tim's blog, the O'Reilly Radar, "watches the alpha geeks" to determine emerging technology trends, and serves as a platform for advocacy about issues of importance to the technical community. Tim's long-term vision for his company is to change the world by spreading the knowledge of innovators. In addition to O'Reilly Media, Tim is a founder of Safari Books Online, a pioneering subscription service for accessing books online, and O'Reilly AlphaTech Ventures, an early-stage venture firm.

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Showing messages 1 through 5 of 5.

Hacking mapping services
2004-06-06 18:38:55 Tyler Mitchell | [Reply | View]

Interesting journal entry, what types of services are you looking for from Microsoft and others? I usually discuss these options in two categories:

1) mapping capabilities and

2) spatial data analysis.

Microsoft and others have focused mostly on providing #1, in my opinion with the products I've seen or used.

But #2 is often the more "interesting" (from a hacker perspective) as it provides information and not (just) an image.

There are some interesting apps that fall under #2 provided, for example, from the government of Canada's "Geospatial Data Infrastructure" (here) - even allowing you to search for services as opposed to data.

So what are your top 5 spatial data and services desires?

Mine would be something like:
Submit geographic coordinates and return nearest town/location name, zip code, other regional names at various scales.
Show a satellite image or airphoto for a given area with a point, or list of points, display on top
Convert coordinates to other coordinate systems

Tyler

Hacking mapping services
2004-06-07 08:05:18 Tim O'Reilly | [Reply | View]

I agree that spatial data analysis is fascinating. I still remember the impression that Negroponte's Media Lab presentation on this subject made on me back in the early 80's. Wow! I want that, I said. And now it's available as a $695 product from Keyhole. We're just starting a new revolution here.

Hey -- you didn't leave an email address, but if you want to get involved in brainstorming for our Mapping Hacks book, send me an email.

Microsoft MapPoint Looking for Pricing Advice
2004-03-11 10:27:33 sgrimland [Reply | View]

If you are interested in hacking away at a GIS system then check out AccuGlobe (<http://www.ddti.net/accuglobe.asp>) It is extensible and soon will have a SDK.

SGrimland

Low Cost Mapping
2004-03-11 09:41:43 dcole [Reply | View]

If MS is complaining about their "third party costs" from aggregating data, why not push the map data suppliers to drop (or abolish) their fees? If GDT or NavTech allowed some "sandbox" access to their maps, then they would benefit from the new mapping applications that spring up.

Wrap it in MSDN
2004-03-03 13:41:27 ericwfrost [Reply | View]

I think many (even most?) of the professional developer folk who would use it have an MSDN subscription at some level, I'd like to see it offered as part of that... see my latest editorial:

Showing messages 1 through 5 of 5.

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