The Microsoft® Bing™ Maps Server and Bing Maps Desktop FAQ

The questions are divided into the following sections:

Product Overview Questions

Q. What are the Microsoft® Bing™ Maps Server (Bing Maps Server) and Bing Maps Desktop products?

A. The Microsoft® Bing™ Maps Server (Bing Maps Server) and Bing Maps Desktop (Bing Maps Desktop) are on-premises, integrated sets of visualization, search and analysis capabilities that provide Bing Maps for Enterprise content and services behind a customer’s firewall, on private or classified networks and on portable platforms. Bing Maps Server and Bing Maps Desktop provide a subset of Bing Maps content and services and include additional features to support the integration of enterprise data. Bing Maps Server and Bing Maps Desktop are scalable applications that will run on consumer laptops as well as enterprise-class servers.

Q. What is the difference between Bing Maps Server and Bing Maps Desktop?

A. Bing Maps Server and Bing Maps Desktop provide the same web browser-based mapping capabilities derived from Bing Maps. Bing Maps Server is scalable with users and data, to support small work groups or an entire enterprise, and can host Bing Maps content for a city, state, region or the world.

The Bing Maps Desktop is a single-user version, typically run from a laptop with external storage, with relatively small sets of map and imagery content on direct attached storage. Only one user is licensed to access each Bing Maps Desktop product.

Q. Why would I want to use these products?

A. The Bing Maps Server and Bing Maps Desktop products are intended for customers such as those in the areas of defense, intelligence and first response (police, fire, etc.) who need the capabilities of Bing Maps for Enterprise but who have concerns about a dependency upon, or connection to, the internet in order to access it. Either they do not have internet connectivity, their connectivity isn’t sufficiently reliable or fast, their applications are too mission critical to rely on internet connectivity, or they have other security concerns.

Q. What are the software and hardware requirements?

A. Bing Maps Server and Bing Maps Desktop run on the Windows Server 2008, Windows 7, or Vista operating systems ( x64). SQL Server 2008 is required to take full advantage of the enterprise data integration capabilities. The amount of required disk storage and number of servers are driven by system size and required performance, which are dependent upon: Bing Maps Server and Bing Maps Desktop can be configured with geospatial content for any user-specified regions of the world. You may specify geographic areas of interest and resolution levels. The amount of geospatial content you request will have an impact on the disk storage requirements for your hardware and on Bing Maps Server and Bing Maps Desktop System Build and System Refresh services.

Q. Will applications developed for Bing Maps run on Bing Maps Server and Bing Maps Desktop?

A. Bing Maps Server and Bing Maps Desktop are based on Microsoft’s new Silverlight Bing Maps map control and includes most of its API. So applications built on this new control should also work with the Bing Maps Server or Bing Maps Desktop.

Q. How do users bring their own geospatial content into Bing Maps Server or Bing Maps Desktop?

A. Bing Maps Server and Bing Maps Desktop come with .NET APIs and tool sets to integrate 3rd party vector and raster geospatial content. There are many options for importing geospatial content into Bing Maps Server or Bing Maps Desktop. Contact Vexcel for more information and assistance.

Q. Can Microsoft SQL Server 2008 be used with Bing Maps Server or Bing Maps Desktop?

A. Yes, SQL Server 2008 is the standard storage and geospatial query back-end for Bing Maps Server and Bing Maps Desktop. Contact Vexcel for more information and assistance.

Q. Can Microsoft SharePoint be used with Bing Maps Server or Bing Maps Desktop?

A. Yes, Bing Maps Server and Bing Maps Desktop can be integrated with SharePoint. Contact Vexcel for more information and assistance.

Q. Is geocoding and routing supported on Bing Maps Server or Bing Maps Desktop?

A. Forward geocoding is included with Bing Maps Server and Bing Maps Desktop. Routing and reverse geocoding are optionally available through a third-party partner.

Q. Can I import DEM’s or 3D models into Bing Maps Server or Bing Maps Desktop?

A. This capability is under development.

Product Components and Pricing/Licensing Questions

Q. What are the components of a Bing Maps Server or Bing Maps Desktop sale?

A. A Bing Maps Server or Bing Maps Desktop package is comprised of the following: Q. How do I purchase the Bing Maps Server and Bing Maps Desktop software licenses?

A. Bing Maps Server and Bing Maps Desktop are available through Microsoft Volume Licensing on a software subscription basis (monthly fee). Bing Maps Server is available in the Server/Client Access License (CAL) licensing model under two editions: Q. What is the definition of a Server and a CAL?

A. A server instance is created by executing the software’s setup or install procedure. An instance of software is also created by duplicating an existing instance. An instance of software is run by loading it into memory and executing one or more of its instructions. A Client Access License (CAL) is required for each user or device that accesses the server software. There are two types of CALs: Device CALs and User CALs. You may license either type but that selection must be determined at the time the license is acquired. These are described in detail in Microsoft’s Product Use Rights.

Q. May I transfer Server and CAL licenses?

A. You may permanently reassign a Server instance or a Device CAL. You may also permanently reassign a User CAL from one user to another, or temporarily reassign to a temporary user while the known user is absent.

Q. Is an enterprise or unlimited user license available?

A. Yes, these kinds of licenses can be negotiated through Volume Licensing on a case-by-case basis.

Q. Are demo or evaluation licenses available?

A. Yes, limited duration demo or evaluation licenses are available once a customer has a signed NDA with Microsoft. Some services fees may apply.

Q. Do I have options in how much content I purchase?

A. There are two content package options in the Server/CAL licensing of the Bing Maps Server: Bing Maps Server or Bing Maps Server with Enhanced Content Pack. Bing Maps Server contains geospatial content from Bing Maps which is available in Zoom Levels 1-9 (roughly down to a pixel resolution of ~300m). Bing Maps Server with Enhanced Content Pack contains geospatial content from Bing Maps which is available in Zoom Levels 1-19 (roughly down to a pixel resolution of ~15cm). Within each option, you do not pay additional licensing fees for additional geographic coverage of your data set.

Q. What are the Services components of a Bing Maps Server or Bing Maps Desktop system sale and how do I purchase them?

A. The services components of a Bing Maps Server or Bing Maps Desktop system sale include System Build, Installation, Training, Technical Support, and System Refresh. Only System Build is required; all others are optional. All services can be purchased outside of Volume Licensing via a direct contract with a services provider of your choice. This can be Vexcel, through an existing Microsoft Premier Services Agreement, or through one of Microsoft’s partners.

Q. Does Bing Maps Server or Bing Maps Desktop include hardware?

A. Hardware can be customer-furnished or purchased through Vexcel, an authorized Dell reseller.

Q. Can I use Bing Maps Server or Bing Maps Desktop for Asset Tracking?

A. Yes, however an extra fee per asset will be charged. Contact Vexcel for more information.

Q. How is the product installed/configured? Who does it?

A. The initial system build, including loading the user-specified geospatial content, must be performed by Vexcel as a services engagement.

Q. How are system updates handled?

A. Over time, your Bing Maps Server or Bing Maps Desktop system will become outdated in terms of both software and geospatial content. Software updates are provided automatically as part of the software license. Subsequent geospatial content refreshes (user-specified frequency) can be performed by Vexcel as a services engagement. Cost for these services varies primarily with the amount of content to be refreshed.

Q. What training is needed and how do I get it?

A. Optional training is available from Vexcel, Microsoft Services or qualified partners.