As we reported back in 2011, Microsoft is working on
indoor maps and
indoor location. Today, Microsoft is ahead of Google in its efforts to capture mapping and location services indoors. Bing Maps is to provide more and better data to its users by adding 2700 venues worldwide to its service. The additional data will come from the partnership that Microsoft is doing with Nokia Navteq in the mapping area. Bing Venue Maps provides indoor maps for large buildings such as malls. Indoor map information contains store location, but also ATM, restrooms and other things that people may search for in such places. Users will now be able to explore through local shopping mall through Bing maps - helping you locate the stores you are looking for, and even browse their directories. The integration of indoor maps in Windows Phone 8 is one of the best values added to the
Microsoft mobile OS. The 2700 additional venues worldwide isn’t much, but its the largest amount of indoor maps anyone has deployed to date. In addition, this effort will increasingly grow and become more complete. Note that this is also available to Windows Phone 7.5 users and the Bing app for iPhone.
