Let’s face it, Windows Phone 7.5 users; Bing maps kind of sucks. I’ve been rocking the Lumia 900 for a few weeks now, and one of the biggest disappointments after using Android for several years was the subpar maps service. Sure, Nokia Drive is markedly better, but it’s not available to everyone, leaving several Windows Phone users in the dark.
Fortunately, Nokia’s partnership with Microsoft branches beyond the Lumia line of devices. Nokia announced late last week that they have been actively working with Microsoft to improve Bing Maps, and have integrated Nokia’s live traffic advice and geocoding into Bing Maps. Bing Maps will now offer the same traffic information that’s available in Nokia Maps, bringing live traffic information in 24 countries, including up to date incident info where available.
The potentially bigger addition is geocoding, which Nokia calls the “magic behind Nokia Maps.” Geocoding is a process whereby Nokia Maps takes latitude and longitude information, and connect it with a readable address for improved location accuracy. Adding geocoding allows for easy search of a location so you can get to your destination faster.
The new Bing Maps powered by Nokia should already be on your Windows Phone 7.5 device. If you’ve spent any time with the new Bing Maps post-update, be sure to leave a comment outlining your experience.
[via Nokia]