14 DAY TRIAL // Two new features added to the mobile flavor of Bing Maps are designed to enhance the search capabilities as well as provide comprehensive information about commercial hotspots across the US.
The Mall Maps and Map Search upgrades introduced to Bing for Mobile Browse now enable users of Microsoft’s decision engine on mobile devices to access maps of malls as well as perform searches right from the Bing Maps.
Mall Maps has already been added to the desktop version of Bing Maps since December 2010, and it now managed to find its way to Bing for Mobile Browse. m.bing.co now features maps for in excess of 400 shopping malls, according to Roberto Bojorquez Alfaro – Program Manager, Bing Maps and Philomena Lobo – Product Manager, Bing Maps.
Alfaro explained that Bing for Mobile Mall Maps can only be leveraged by users with devices sporting HTML5 capable browsers, such as iPhones, Google Android and RIM smartphones.
“We’ve made locating mall maps an easy task from your desktop or m.bing.com. Just search for the mall name on Bing or Bing Maps, then click on the Mall Map link in the search results contact card,” Alfaro said.
“You can also view different levels of a specific venue by clicking the “Level” button at the top of the screen and then selecting the correct level from the provided list.”
With Map Search, users can perform searches right from Bing for Mobile Browse, the software giant stressed. Following the upgrade, Bing for Mobile Browse will display both a list and its associated map to user searches via Bings Maps/List split view.
“Pan the map and hit refresh and the results in the list will change based on the position of the map. The map highlights the business locations as you scroll through the list making it easy to see where all the options are located. Clicking on a list item such as a business listing will move the map to focus on that business. Similarly, clicking on a point of interest on the map updates the list,” Alfaro explained.