This bit of PR came to Maps-L via a non-map friend who has a friend who works for GeoSystems. Since it is marked as a press release I am sending it to the list. I am sorry for the extremely high pollution level of the verbage but I could see no way to cut out the puffery. If you can stand to wade through the mess you will find some interesting proposals for doing commercial cartography via the Internet. I have not looked at the WEB site they announce but it will be interesting to see what they can do, now and in the future. For me what is important is not how good this company lives up to their PR but rather the what this says about where cartography, digital data, and the Internet are heading. If nothing else, do I put this commercial WEB site on my Map Collection's homepage? I would argue yes. But this is not the topic of the following press release.---------------------------Johnnie ---------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------- CORPORATE PRESS RELEASE GeoSystems Outlines Strategy to Connect the Virtual World to the Real World Industry Innovator Forges Publisher Partnerships and Powerful Electronic Navigation Technologies to Dramatically Expand Consumer and Business Use of Interactive Mapping LANCASTER, PA -- February 5, 1996 -- GeoSystems, the leader in geographic technology for print and electronic publishing, today announced a bold new strategy to lead the evolution of interactive mapping in information visualization, interaction and navigation across a broad array of consumer and business applications. Leveraging its unique market position, GeoSystems revealed a new vision of online information which promises to accelerate the integration of geographic and reference data to provide a new generation of customized interactive mapping products and services. This strategy will advance online technology with a new navigation and presentation paradigm for much of the content published by businesses and used by consumers. In a separate release, GeoSystems today announced MapQuestTM, the first online mapping service that combines the power of cartography with business data. "GeoSystems is innovating and expanding the combined use of mapping technology and data that is relevant to people's lives," said Barry Glick, President and CEO of GeoSystems Global Corporation. "The Internet provides an unparalleled distribution vehicle for connecting consumers with the information they need every day. We are seizing this opportunity to introduce online interactive mapping as a new vehicle to connect businesses and consumers. Our online service strategy is to provide consumers and businesses with the ability to easily access mapping information, and use it to enhance their lives or help achieve their business goals." GeoSystems established its unique market position after leading the publishing industry in the early introduction of electronic mapping as an innovative way to enhance travel, yellow pages, real estate, trip planning and atlas mapping across a variety of multimedia platforms. A long-standing position as the primary supplier of high-quality cartographic content to the world's largest publishers also provides GeoSystems with the partnerships and content necessary to launch this new strategy. "The convergence of technology and geographic data with electronic publishing has created a new foundation with virtually unlimited potential," said Perry Evans, Vice President and general manager for GeoSystems. "GeoSystems' vision -- an emerging world of 'mapplets' tailored to individual needs and interactive mapping as a new online navigation paradigm -- is unique and powerful." GeoSystems' eclectic blend of software engineering, consumer product development and application-oriented experts has created leading examples of interactive mapping in such products as ProCD's Select Street Atlas, AAA Trip Planner, the Grolier Multimedia Encyclopedia, Ameritech Business Search CD-ROM and Moore Data Management's LANDMARK TM MLS system. GeoSystems will leverage its partnerships throughout the publishing industry, as well as forge new alliances with pioneers in online publishing. "We have teamed closely with GeoSystems in building industry leading multimedia travel titles over the past year, and have been sharing visions for incorporating interactive mapping as a foundation for online information publishing," said Lloyd Short, President of Macmillan Digital Publishing. "We're very excited about the platform and the vision being pioneered by GeoSystems." As GeoSystems' technology is deployed, individuals and businesses will benefit from a growing number of ways to use online maps. The cornerstone of GeoSystems' vision is the popular use of online mapping as an information resource, allowing companies to depict all of their business locations or store chains on an interactive map. Users can locate the ATMs nearest their homes or offices by making a specific inquiry and having a dynamically drawn map created just for them. In addition, travelers will be able to find hotel accommodations most convenient to their business meetings or obtain information about current theater performances when they are visiting cities around the world. "Everything people do involves geography. Maps have been used as one of the most pervasive reference documents in the world. Individuals are always considering where they have to go, how far they have to travel, and how long it will take to get there," said Glick. "Bringing this need together with a dynamic platform where publisher's content can be intuitively combined with customized views of geographic content promises to revolutionize the way people apply maps in their daily routine." Today, as a major step in realizing this vision, GeoSystems also announced MapQuest, the first consumer-oriented interactive mapping information service for the Internet. MapQuest is a dynamic, new site forthe Web that allows users to zoom and browse their way around the world. In addition, MapQuest provides a solid platform for publishers and = developers to build applications that exploit the power of interactive mapping. GeoSystems is the leading supplier of geographic information products and services to the information publishing industry. It's locational software, digital map content and development services have been applied across a broad array of media in partnership with the world's leading publishers. GeoSystems has pioneered the adoption of interactive mapping with leading publishers in travel, reference, yellow pages and textbook markets, in addition to emerging electronic publishers in segments such as real estate. For more information, please visit our home page http://www.geosys.com. Note: All company, brand and product names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies. GeoLocate is a registered trademark and MapQuest is a trademark of GeoSystems Global Corp. ### Joan Blake, Corporate Communications Manager GeoSystems Global Corp. (717) 293-7559 [log in to unmask] Debbie Hendrickson,Sr. Acct. Executive Niehaus Ryan Haller Public Relations (801) 645-8766 [log in to unmask] MAPQUEST PRESS RELEASE GeoSystems Delivers MapQuest: The Premier Interactive Mapping Service for the Internet New Online Service Provides Consumers and Publishers With Integrated Geographic and Situational Information LANCASTER, PA -- February 5, 1996 -- GeoSystems, the leader in geographic technology for print and electronic publishing, today introduced MapQuestTM, the first consumer-oriented interactive mapping service for the Internet. MapQuest exemplifies the power of combining interactive maps with business, travel and other information, dramatically increasing the reach and value of mapping technology. MapQuest is a dynamic new Web site that offers consumers the ability to interactively zoom and browse their way around the world. In addition, MapQuest provides businesses with a powerful venue for presenting their content within a rich geographic context. With MapQuest, users can locate businesses, places of interest, entertainment or event locations, and travel resources, all with the most detailed, high-quality cartographic information available online. In a separate release, GeoSystems today also announced its long-term strategy and corporate vision. "GeoSystems has led the way in the evolution of interactive mapping for electronic products. By applying our technology and content to the online world, we have created a rich new platform for information navigation and presentation," said Perry Evans, GeoSystems' Vice President and General Manager. "Whether traveling, shopping or conducting business, maps are a fundamental part of the way people work and play. MapQuest provides the means for information publishers -- companies with a need to disseminate information -- to combine this powerful geographic context with their content, providing a new way to extend the value of their online data." Explore MapQuest at http://www.mapquest.com MapQuest is open for online exploration. Distinct service offerings are available for publishers and consumers. MapQuest Interconnect, a service for information publishers, provides an innovative way to extend the application to current Web sites by offering a turnkey 'closed-loop' geographic locating and display service. MapQuest will host the publisher's data as a unique layer on MapQuest, and hyperlink the sites together for a 'virtual application.' This provides the publisher with a simple, low effort business and technology model that provides an easy growth path to added functions and opportunities. The consumer service includes an interactive atlas that provides the ability to easily access and select information with data-driven queries and to customize and save personalized maps. Accurate and complete driving directions for trips within the USA are also available using TripQuest, a fun and useful MapQuest feature. An interactive mapping showcase is also highlighted with a Special Tours section. These special tours feature innovative new uses of MapQuest technology for such applications as online real estate and entertainment. MapQuest represents the culmination of significant innovations in applying GeoSystems' industry-leading consumer mapping software to the unique demands of the Internet and online users. MapQuest provides unparalleled performance and flexibility for the creation and display of online maps, which can be dynamically personalized based on user inquiries. All MapQuest services are free for consumers. GeoSystems also offers custom solutions for business partners based on an annual license contract. MapQuest Interconnect: An Opportunity For Online Information Providers MapQuest Interconnect is an innovative service that will facilitate online information searches, offering a unique business opportunity for information providers. Through the integration of GeoSystems' extensive cartographic database with business data from a publisher, MapQuest enables businesses to increase traffic to their physical and virtual sites. Combined with business product and service data, MapQuest helps consumers make better buying decisions and guides them to the actual location of a business' services or facilities. Inns & Outs, the most comprehensive resource for bed and breakfast information, is one of the first online services to utilize MapQuest. "With detailed information on thousands of B&Bs and inns across North America, MapQuest will allow us to more accurately and quickly respond to prospective traveler inquires when locating a particular area or property," said Eric Goldreyer, President of Inns & Outs. "GeoSystems' outstanding technology will ensure Inns & Outs users the best mapping capabilities drawing more visitors, prospective travelers and, ultimately, customers to our B&Bs and inns." Technology Advantages MapQuest delivers cartographic information, married with powerful database and networking technologies, to provide the flexibility and innovation needed to enable consumer use of interactive mapping. Its query and map display software, combined with intelligent map and reference databases, comprise the infrastructure for GeoSystems' online technology. MapQuest features client/server mapping and database technology architected to efficiently deliver map images through any browser. This technology is specifically designed to support GeoSystems' client/server vision for online mapping, incorporating the use of Java-based Mapplets and hybrid CD-ROM approaches. MapQuest employs the latest in Web site management and database-driven Web technology, enabling GeoSystems to continue deriving unique services that can be customized for the evolving needs of the publishing industry and the consumer. Cartographic Innovator MapQuest represents the latest innovation from GeoSystems, a company well known as the leading supplier of geographic information to publishers. Its interactive mapping and database technology provide unlimited application possibilities for customized, interactive geographic information embedded in an array of consumer and business applications. With GeoSystems' combination of breakthrough technology and strong information partnerships, it is poised to guide the world into a new generation of online interactive mapping. GeoSystems is the leading supplier of geographic information products and services to the information publishing industry. It's locational software, digital map content and development services have been applied across a broad array of media in partnership with the world's leading publishers. GeoSystems has pioneered the adoption of interactive mapping with leading publishers in travel, reference, yellow pages and textbook markets, in addition to emerging electronic publishers in segments such as real estate. For more information, please visit our home page http://www.geosys.com. Note: All company, brand and product names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies. GeoLocate is a registered trademark and MapQuest is a trademark of GeoSystems Global Corp. ### Joan Blake, Corporate Communications Manager GeoSystems Global Corp. (717) 293-7559 [log in to unmask] Debbie Hendrickson, Sr. Acct. Executive Niehaus Ryan Haller Public Relations (801) 645-8766 [log in to unmask]