Multimap launched a world-leading new version of its
multiple-award-winning site, www.multimap.com.
Beta testers love the new
features and the site is destined to become the favourite lifestyle
manager for everyday needs. The new site launch comes at a time when,
according to a recent Forrester Research survey 1, over 45% of people in
the UK are using the internet to access maps and travel directions. As the
internet community grows rapidly (over 86% of people are regularly using
emails) users are expecting more from web-based services.

The new website helps holiday-makers to make the most of weekend breaks by
ensuring their area knowledge is up to scratch. Multimap displays the
exact location of (and topline information about) points of interest in
their holiday destination of interest, e.g., map cashpoints, bus stops,
bars, pubs and restaurants. Maps can be sent to users’ mobile phones and,
for those who have registered for MyMultimap, the same maps and favourite
locations accessed online are only a few clicks away on their mobile
phones. Valuable time printing up and promptly forgetting paper maps is
saved and, for those who just cannot leave work at home, the new Multimap
website will also help find Wi-fi spots!

Exciting new features at www.multimap.com include:

‘Hybrid’ draggable maps, improved imagery, and best-of-breed overlays
.
Users can now “grab” the map and “drag” it to get a more complete view of
the area they’re looking at. Multimap has also enhanced its satellite and
aerial imagery coverage: satellite and aerial views of the entire world
are now available. And the new site offers Multimap’s unique “hybrid” map
overlaid on satellite and aerial images—a service that Multimap
pioneered in 2001.
A choice of map type, including Ordnance Survey maps

Multimap is the only site that offers users the ability to change the type
of map you view at the click of a button! Prefer the look of Ordnance
Survey Landranger maps? Or Collins maps of London? Just hover your mouse
over the “map” button in the top left corner of the map, click on the
small map that appears, and the map changes!
Daily essentials for every journey - whatever the distance

More local information: the “useful information” panel enables you to view
points of interest - such as cashpoints, petrol stations, hospitals, and
Wi-Fi hotspots—on our maps. Click on the individual markers to see more
detail about each point of interest.
Local eBay vendor search

Find your nearest desired item on sale exclusively with Multimap! You can
now search for items from eBay vendors near you, or in a specific area.
This facility is particularly useful if you’re searching for large items,
such as a car, and don’t want to trek across the country to get it.
Personalised journey planning

Add your own favourites! It’s no longer necessary to be signed up for
MyMultimap to save up to three favourite routes or maps.
New mobile services and integration between web and mobile

Thanks to tight integration between web and mobile, the days of printing a
map and promptly leaving it on a printer are long gone. Not only can you
still push a map to your mobile phone—you can now use MyMultimap Mobile
to see your favourites and search history. You can also find new maps
while on the move. Just register for MyMultimap, include your mobile
number in the registration information, and you’re on your way!
Sophisticated printable itinerary

New print options: we now offer you the ability to print a page showing an
overview map, plus detailed views of an area; this detailed option also
shows nearest transport links on your print-out.
Improved hotel search

More comprehensive hotel searching: you can now see hotels from our
partners—Active Hotels, ASE, Wotif, and Marriot—overlaid on the map
you’re viewing. Just click on the individual markers to see more details
of each hotel. You can also search for hotels that have availability on
particular dates by clicking on “refine selection”.
 
Commenting on the new site, Sean Phelan, founder of Multimap, said, “The
feedback we’ve received to date from users who have previewed the site has
been extremely positive. The draggable maps, new satellite imagery, and of
course our map overlay feature seem to be particularly popular. The
additional local information, and the ability to buy from eBay have been
singled out by a number of users as great additions to our services.

“Now that the market is ready to embrace the opportunities associated with
mobile technology, getting lost will become a thing of the past, thanks to
Multimap. Just as we can’t quite imagine what it was like to be in the
Blitz when our grandparents talk about it, our grandchildren won’t be able
grasp the concept of being lost. They won’t be able to comprehend what
life must have been like in the old days when people couldn’t access maps
and location information from their mobile devices,” he continued. “We’re
very excited about our new mobile services, and about the new site launch
overall. And there will be more to come very soon!”
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