MapQuest Business Solutions Launches Advantage API 5.0

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Tuesday, January 9, 2007; 02:48 AM

MapQuest Business Solutions, an industry leading provider of enterprise software for location based services, today announced the launch of its MapQuest® Advantage API™ v5 (AAPI 5.0) platform, which enables businesses to integrate high-powered, location-based technology into their web and wireless applications.

Serving key industries such as real estate, retail, hospitality, healthcare, transportation, insurance and banking, AAPI 5.0 not only introduces much sought-after new features like “grab and pan,” aerial imagery and hybrid views, it also provides an overall interface that is much easier to deploy and use. The platform’s new Asynchronous JavaScript and XML (AJAX) interface allows developers to quickly and easily location-enable their applications.

“It’s our next generation API, the foundation from which we will build our products and services," said Christian Dwyer, Director of Operations for MapQuest. “Designed to be flexible, the new platform translates into higher quality web and wireless applications, lower development costs, and faster time to market while providing all the same great routing, geocoding and feature sets that customers already use on MapQuest.com.”

“With Advantage API 5.0, an end user can switch between various search parameters, points of interest, map and aerial views, grab and pan, zoom, icons, and rollovers without an image refresh,” said Joel Macintosh, CEO of WolfNet Technologies. “And the key that brings it all together is the ease of implementation with the new API."

MapQuest’s AAPI 5.0 enables various industries to leverage the power of a location-based platform to build their own custom developed applications designed to meet their customer needs. From enhancements to key real estate functions, including plotting listings on a map and property searches, to analyzing sales territories, fleet management, asset tracking, customized routing and competitive market analysis, businesses can develop innovative location-based services which take advantage of AAPI 5.0 development tools.

AAPI 5.0 emphasizes:

--  Developer Ease-of-Use - build highly functional location-enabled
    applications with little development effort required.

--  Rich, Interactive Maps - the AJAX API enables developers to build
    rich Internet applications with a desktop-like experience.

AAPI 5.0 Key Features Include:

--  Drag and Pan Interface

    --  Build a map interface that allows users to 'drag and pan' to
        move the map location.

--  Aerial imagery and hybrid

    --  New map styles that include:

        --  High-resolution satellite and aerial imagery at 16
            different zoom levels (zoom level varies by geographic
            location).

        --  Hybrid map style that takes imagery and overlays street
            map road networks.

--  Routing

    --  Generate maps and driving directions from one location to
        another or create an optimized route to several locations.
        MapQuest's patented routing algorithms are the same that have
        powered the #1 mapping website, www.mapquest.com, for the last
        10 years.

--  Geocoding

    --  AAPI 5.0 allows users to resolve longitude/latitude
        coordinates to a specific address. MapQuest prides itself on
        the accuracy and global coverage of its geocoding and works
        with multiple data sets to try to ensure the closest possible
        address match.

--  Intelligent Search

    --  Search for locations within a specific drive time, radius,
        route corridor or custom polygon.

--  Geographic coverage - expanding high quality, world-wide
    geographic coverage in areas including:

    --  Africa

    --  Asia & The Pacific Rim

    --  Caribbean

    --  Europe

    --  Middle East

    --  North America

    --  South America

--  Points of Interest (POIs)

    --  Built on MapQuest's renowned, comprehensive database of
        listings, including restaurants, hotels, gas stations, ATMs
        and much more, clients can augment current data offerings with
        MapQuest POIs, complete with custom icons.

Advantage API Platform Enhancements Benefit Client Application

Customers are finding AAPI 5.0’s new platform enhancements to be very valuable from a functional, development and cost-savings perspective. Minneapolis-based WolfNet Technologies, which specializes in Internet technology and consulting for real estate companies, implemented the new Advantage API 5.0 into their MapTracksSM subscription service in three days with a single developer. According to WolfNet, AAPI 5.0's increased level of layering eliminates intermediate programming and frees developers from having to spend time creating custom overlays.

Since 1994, MapQuest has provided customers with the advanced mapping software, information and services they need to increase qualified leads and online conversions from their web presence. Today, MapQuest reliably serves over 1,400 global brands in key industries. For more information on MapQuest’s mapping software and platforms, visit www.mapquest.com/businesssolutions.

About MapQuest

MapQuest offers Internet, wireless and business solutions that help people find places. MapQuest is one of the most recognized and trusted brands on the Internet and is the leading consumer Web site for maps and directions, serving more than 45 million users in November 2006, according to comScore Media Metrix. MapQuest, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of AOL LLC, is based in Denver, Colorado.

About AOL

AOL is a global Web services company that operates some of the most popular Web destinations, offers a comprehensive suite of free software and services, runs the country's largest Internet access business, and provides a full set of advertising solutions. A majority-owned subsidiary of Time Warner Inc., AOL LLC is based in Dulles, Virginia. AOL and its subsidiaries also have operations in Europe, Canada and Asia. Learn more at AOL.com