InfoNow to integrate Microsoft Virtual Earth within its LocationInsight offering so financial, retail, manufacturing and services companies can easily direct customers to their business
Microsoft Corp. and InfoNow Corp., a leading provider of channel visibility and location services solutions, today announced an agreement to extend the power and capabilities of Microsoft® Virtual Earth, Microsoft's next-generation mapping and location service, to the more than 20 million consumers worldwide who access InfoNow LocationInsight each month to gain information and find businesses and services such as store locations, branch offices and automated teller machines (ATMs).
Leading companies such as Everbank, LaSalle Bank and Suzuki use InfoNow LocationInsight to help customers find the optimal business site to meet their needs. The Virtual Earth platform powers a variety of consumer, enterprise and government applications that enable people to find a specific location. With the addition of the Virtual Earth online mapping platform, InfoNow LocationInsight customers can now put intelligent, searchable maps with state-of-the-art imagery at the fingertips of consumers through virtually any computer or Internet-enabled mobile device, to ensure fast and easy access to products and services.
"In a competitive banking environment, it's critical that we make ourselves accessible to our customers so we are able to quickly meet their needs,"Â said Alexis Koch, vice president of personal financial services at LaSalle Bank. "With InfoNow LocationInsight, we help ensure that our customers can find a nearby branch or ATM no matter where they are or what time of day it is. We're excited to know that InfoNow is working with Microsoft to add its rich mapping capabilities, which will make it even easier for our customers to find and use our services."Â
InfoNow LocationInsight is a Web service that helps companies use the Internet, interactive voice response systems and wireless devices to direct customers to the best possible location to meet their needs based on their specific circumstances. For instance, a customer seeking a store location late in the evening would be directed to one that is open 24 hours rather than one that may be nearer but closes at 10 p.m. With Virtual Earth, a company using InfoNow LocationInsight now can deliver Microsoft's immersive bird's-eye, satellite and aerial imagery; reliable driving directions; and point-of-interest information such as parking facilities; along with detailed information for the business location.
"InfoNow LocationInsight is a unique offering in the market, and already has an impressive established user base of leading, global companies,"Â said Erik Jorgensen, general manager of the Virtual Earth and Live Search Maps Business Unit at Microsoft. "InfoNow is a great partner to extend the reach of Virtual Earth to these companies and the millions of their customers who are looking for a better way to find, discover and explore a specific location."Â
"Smart companies recognize that having multiple locations isn't enough. It's critical to make contact details, store hours and other business information easily available so customers can determine the best location for their needs,"Â said Mark Geene, chief executive officer at InfoNow. "With its enhanced imagery and sophisticated mapping service, Microsoft Virtual Earth is the right platform to help us deliver a richer experience, enabling customers to find what they are looking for quickly and easily"Â - Microsoft.
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