• Search Engine Land
  • Sections
    • SEO
    • SEM
    • Local
    • Retail
    • Google
    • Bing
    • Social
    • Resources
    • More
    • Home
  • Follow Us
    • Follow
  • Search Engine Land
  • SEO
  • SEM
  • Local
  • Retail
  • Google
  • Bing
  • Social
  • Resources
  • Live
  • More
  • Events
    • Follow
  • SUBSCRIBE

Search Engine Land

Search Engine Land
  • SEO
  • SEM
  • Local
  • Retail
  • Google
  • Bing
  • Social
  • Resources
  • More
  • Newsletters
  • Home
Local

Bing offers a trio of new local search APIs

Each one performs different but complementary functions for enterprises and app developers.

Greg Sterling on January 30, 2019 at 9:30 am
  • More

These days Bing Maps is highly focused on the enterprise, mirroring Microsoft’s turn toward cloud-based solutions with the ascension of CEO Satya Nadella. The company has stopped trying to match features with Google Maps in competition for consumer attention and has focused increasingly on developers and enterprises.

In that context, Microsoft has now released three location APIs: Bing Maps Location Recognition, Bing Maps Local Search API and Bing Maps Local Insights API. They were originally rolled out individually in December.

What the APIs can deliver. Location Recognition will translate a lat-long coordinate into more accessible information such as points of interest, business identities, landmarks and “natural entities” (e.g., beaches) as appropriate to the coordinates. Bing says you can ask questions such as, “What are the businesses and points of interest near a real estate property that I am interested in buying?”

Bing’s Local Search API enables an application to provide local search results that are identical to those available on Bing. The company is making its full local dataset available to developers.

Answering more complex queries. The Local Insights API enables answers to more complex questions that involve relationships between places. Microsoft says in a blog post, “Bing Maps Local Insights API can help get insights into businesses and entities within a given area reached by driving, walking or public transit within a given time or distance.” For example:

  • Profile neighborhoods (e.g., Restaurants, schools within walking distances etc.) to help house hunters identify the perfect neighborhood for a new home.
  • Display a list of businesses such as gas stations nearby that could be helpful when planning for a new business location.

The APIs only support U.S. data and use cases for now but Microsoft says it has “plans to make them more broadly available in the near future.”

Why you should care. In addition to Bing, Google, Apple, HERE and OpenStreetMap each offer developer APIs with different capabilities and data. Google is the dominant player but it’s worth investigating alternatives. Maps and the location data supporting them are the foundation of mobile search and only gaining in importance to marketers and developers as the digital and physical worlds become more connected.


Opinions expressed in this article are those of the guest author and not necessarily Search Engine Land. Staff authors are listed here.



About The Author

Greg Sterling
Greg Sterling is a Contributing Editor to Search Engine Land, a member of the programming team for SMX events and the VP, Market Insights at Uberall.

Related Topics

Bing Maps & LocalBing MobileChannel: Local

We're listening.

Have something to say about this article? Share it with us on Facebook, Twitter or our LinkedIn Group.

Get the daily newsletter search marketers rely on.
See terms.

ATTEND OUR EVENTS

Lorem ipsum doler this is promo text about SMX events.

February 23, 2021: SMX Report

April 13, 2021: SMX Create

May 18-19, 2021: SMX London

June 8-9, 2021: SMX Paris

June 15-16, 2021: SMX Advanced

August 17, 2021: SMX Convert

November 9-10, 2021: SMX Next

October 2021: SMX Advanced Europe

December 17, 2021: SMX Code

Available On-Demand: SMX

×


Learn More About Our SMX Events

Discover actionable tactics that can help you overcome crucial marketing challenges. Our next conference will be held:

MarTech 2021: March 16-17

MarTech 2021: Sept. 14-15

MarTech 2020: Watch On-Demand

×

Attend MarTech - Click Here


Learn More About Our MarTech Events

White Papers

  • A Beginner’s Guide to Omnichannel Marketing using Marketing Automation
  • The Top Five Objections That Hold Companies Back From Doing SEO
  • How To Optimize SEO With UGC
  • Email Tune-Up: A 5-Point Inspection to Get Your Program in Gear
  • Digital Marketing Report Q4 2020: Benchmarks and Insights for 2021
See More Whitepapers

Webinars

  • The Secret Behind SEO Success: Predict Rank with the Power of Data Science
  • How to Avoid the Digital Transformation Trap
  • How to Build a Marketing System of Record
See More Webinars

Research Reports

  • Local Marketing Solutions for Multi-Location Businesses
  • Enterprise Digital Asset Management Platforms
  • Identity Resolution Platforms
  • Customer Data Platforms
  • B2B Marketing Automation Platforms
  • Call Analytics Platforms
See More Research

h
Receive daily search news and analysis.
Search Engine Land
Download the Search Engine Land App on iTunes Download the Search Engine Land App on Google Play

Channels

  • SEO
  • SEM
  • Local
  • Retail
  • Google
  • Bing
  • Social

Our Events

  • SMX
  • MarTech

Resources

  • White Papers
  • Research
  • Webinars
  • Search Marketing Expo
  • MarTech Conference

About

  • About Us
  • Contact
  • Privacy
  • Marketing Opportunities
  • Staff
  • Connect With Us

Follow Us

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • Newsletters
  • Instagram
  • RSS
  • Youtube
  • iOS App
  • Google Play

© 2021 Third Door Media, Inc. All rights reserved.

Your privacy means the world to us. We share your personal information only when you give us explicit permission to do so, and confirm we have your permission each time. Learn more by viewing our privacy policy.Ok