Microsoft has launched the redesigned Bing Maps, which incorporates several new features as it looks to compete with the leading service in the industry, Google Maps.
The preview version of Bing Maps is now available for users who choose to opt into the service, and those that do will get to see what Microsoft was able to improve on as the company listed to user feedback for the development of the product.
According to the post on the official Bing blog that discusses the new service, the new Bing Maps has been designed to allow users to search, view and share several places simultaneously, see photos and trusted reviews from websites such as Yelp and gain access to information and visuals on locations, which will make planning travels much easier.
Bing Maps features a new design that displays information on different destinations using results cards that are displayed on the left side of the screen. Several cards can be seen at once, with each one displaying relevant information for ever location. The new design of Bing Maps is also more intuitive and touch-friendly.
The new Bing Maps also improved upon its search and directions capabilities, with predictive routing taking into account traffic during certain periods of the day to calculate travel time. There is also the new Along the Route feature, which will suggest locations to stop over along a planned trip such as restaurants, hotels and gas stations. Bing Maps also has a new split-screen layout which can give users a street-side view of a destination with the map displayed below it.
Bing Maps has also been redesigned to allow for more personalization, with the My Places feature allowing users to save their favorite locations which will automatically sync with Windows Maps and Cortana. Users can also share travel plans crafted within Bing Maps with other people so that everyone in the party will know what the itinerary is.
Microsoft also said that users should stay tuned for upcoming updates to the mobile version of Bing Maps.
Bing Maps Preview will be updated and further developed using feedback that the company will gather from users that opt in to the preview program.
However, it should be noted that the service is only available within the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia, Indonesia, India, South Africa and Malaysia. The service will be released into more markets soon.
