As Bing Maps continues to grow and add features, the service becomes more and more impressive. The latest addition is the Taxi Fare calculator that calculates your expected fare by factoring in pick-up, time, and distance charges and will even calculate the shortest route, making sure you’re not taken for a ride.
Features of the Taxi Fare Calculator
The Taxi Fare calculator is a significant addition to Bing Maps, offering users a convenient way to estimate their taxi expenses before they even step into a cab. By inputting your pick-up location and destination, the calculator takes into account various factors such as the base fare, time of travel, and distance covered. This ensures that users get a comprehensive estimate of their taxi fare, helping them budget their travel expenses more effectively.
One of the standout features of this tool is its ability to calculate the shortest route. This not only helps in reducing the fare but also ensures that users reach their destination in the quickest possible time. This feature is particularly useful in unfamiliar cities where travelers might be concerned about being overcharged or taken on unnecessarily long routes.
Competition and Market Position
The new app is being considered for Microsoft’s King of Bing Maps competition together with other entrants GeoSalesTax, Random Location, and World of Football. Looks like it’s already won to me.
The winner will soon be selected by a panel that includes CNET’s Josh Lowensohn, Search Engine Land’s Greg Sterling, and Directions’ Joe Francica. Expect the announcement to show up on the Bing blog on August 20th.
Microsoft still has an uphill battle if it wants to compete with the main players in the map market such as Google Maps and Mapquest. While Bing Maps has made significant strides with features like the Taxi Fare calculator, it still needs to innovate continuously to keep up with the competition. Google Maps, for instance, offers a plethora of features including real-time traffic updates, public transportation schedules, and even bike routes. Mapquest, on the other hand, has a loyal user base that appreciates its straightforward interface and reliable directions.
However, Bing Maps is not without its unique advantages. The integration with other Microsoft services such as Cortana and Outlook can provide a seamless experience for users who are already within the Microsoft ecosystem. For example, if you have a meeting scheduled in Outlook, Bing Maps can automatically suggest the best route and estimate the travel time, including the taxi fare if you choose to take a cab.
Moreover, Bing Maps has been focusing on enhancing its user interface and adding more localized content. This includes detailed maps for various regions, points of interest, and even user reviews for restaurants and hotels. These additions make Bing Maps a more comprehensive tool for both everyday use and travel planning.
In conclusion, while Bing Maps may still be playing catch-up with giants like Google Maps, its continuous addition of useful features like the Taxi Fare calculator shows that it is committed to improving user experience. As it continues to innovate and integrate more functionalities, Bing Maps could very well become a strong contender in the mapping service market.
Via Gizmodo
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