There is a growing trend to use maps as the interface for many things. Such as Nextel ( http://www.nextelpartners.com/ ) phones having integrated partnerships with GPS and AVL solutions

(http://eastbay.bizjournals.com/eastbay/stories/2004/11/29/story7.html?page=1)

(http://www.cloudberry.com/company-partners.php)

(http://www.cloudberry.com/cloudberry-overview.php)

Articles such as (http://www.wired.com/news/wireservice/0,70020-0.html?tw=rss.technology) that talk about the reality of satellite images being darn crisp, about Amazon and msn maps having links to ground based images of streets where the whole interface is likely to overtake the yellow page reality.

http://nationalatlas.gov/HELP/doqhelp.html

http://earth.google.com/
http://www.terraserver.microsoft.com/

http://maps.a9.com/

http://www.frappr.com/

Services like FRAPPER that allow you to link things directly into the map points, whether it is research sites, business units, competition, or people who like to ride mountain bikes… this is all possible and just a click away where as five years ago, took a lot of integration with ESRI tools and map layers…

There will be a growing trend to localize how people find or list the services they offer. So if you are a Therapist, muffler shop, custom printing, or any kind of business… if you are the first one to get listed on these sites or incorporate your online presence with map interfaces…

You will have a competitive advantage for a while and that is good.

http://local.live.com/
http://www.microsoft.com/mappoint/default.mspx

Found a real good site the other day…. http://www.knowthis.com/ 

It contains current links to magazine articles, is clearly organized and is full of tutorials and pertinent information that is very useful in directing the thought process and shaking the tree of ideas for new apples to fall.

Go ahead and take a look about…