Software Spotlight

YOU may not think, at first blush, that your firm needs Microsoft Corp.'s MapPoint 2002 software -- but when you find out what it can do, you may change your mind.

Steve Lombardi

During LTN's recent visit to Redmond, product manager Steve Lombardi demonstrated some of its capabilities. The software helps users incorporate geographic information into Microsoft Office programs, such as PowerPoint, Excel, and Outlook.

It offers high-quality maps, comprehensive data, and wizards to help generate detailed maps.

Lombardi showed us how the software could be used to analyze everything from criminal activity to understanding client buying patterns (such as analyzing how far clients are willing to drive to meet with you.) You can create or customize a map, (say, with driving instructions to your office), put it on your Web site, or make it downloadable to Pocket PC PDAs for mobile access to location information.

Reader Response no. 340.