MapInfo debuts MapXpress, the first online superstore for data and mapping products; Revolutionary interactive electronic catalog offers access to broadest range of data for desktop mapping applications

Business Wire, April 16, 1996

TROY, N.Y.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 16, 1996--MapInfo Corporation, the recognized leader in desktop mapping software for nearly a decade, today announced MapXpress, the first online mapping superstore that offers quick, easy access to the broadest range of data and mapping products for desktop mapping software applications. This revolutionary service streamlines the purchasing process for the growing number of businesses and individuals who use desktop mapping for data management and analysis. MapXpress is a one-stop, Internet shop for business users and value-added resellers to browse, view, select and purchase the most up-to-date spatially-enabled information in a timely and convenient way. MapXpress is accessible on the World Wide Web at http://www.mapxpress.com or can be accessed from MapInfo's home page at http://www.mapinfo.com.

"Business professionals' demands for spatial data and related products continues to grow rapidly across every industry," said Michael Hickey, group manager for MapInfo Data Products. "Through MapXpress, users have quick and easy access to MapInfo's wide range of comprehensive worldwide data products including detailed street-level digital maps, demographic data and data translators. Customers can browse and place orders at their convenience, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, for quick turnaround on product shipments. To stay competitive in today's ever-changing business environment, organizations depend on immediate access to current and accurate information for making effective strategic and operational decisions. For example, a Seattle-based health maintenance organization (HMO) using MapInfo desktop mapping software can quickly obtain the latest demographic data of the Pacific Northwest to determine the region's market potential for supporting expansion of its provider services. In addition, the HMO can purchase digital maps of the area to efficiently plot current locations of its existing health clinics and physician network to better service its current subscriber base.

"Before MapXpress, desktop mapping customers had to rely on print catalogs that were often out-dated due to frequent data updates and changes, such as new 9-digit ZIP code boundaries," said Dick Taylor of Taylor Technics, Inc. "Accurate, current data is critical for allowing our customers to get the most out of their desktop mapping applications -- whether they are analyzing sales territories, searching new markets for bank services, managing disaster response or planning new facility locations. MapXpress allows users to access current data that is specific to their daily operations in a very convenient and easy way."

To browse and purchase data, MapXpress users submit search terms on the MapXpress Query Form according to geography, data type and keyword, or a combination of all three. They then select a specific data product(s) and provide billing information, after which the products are shipped directly to them. Transaction security is ensured through the Netscape Commerce Web Server which supports Secure Socket Layer (SSL) encryption, allowing MapXpress users to securely purchase the data via credit card transactions over the Internet.

About MapInfo

MapInfo Corporation (Troy, NY) is the worldwide leader in desktop mapping solutions with products in use by 150,000 customers in virtually every industry, to organize, arrange and analyze information in a highly visual way. The company's products are available in 58 countries and 16 languages and are sold through multi-channel distribution involving direct sales, resellers and distributors. MapInfo's software runs on Windows 95, Windows NT, Windows 3.1.x, Power Macintosh, Macintosh, Sun and Hewlett-Packard platforms. MapInfo Corporation is on the World Wide Web at http://www.mapinfo.com. -0-

MapInfo is a registered trademark, and MapXpress is a trademark of MapInfo Corporation. Other products named herein may be trademarks of their respective manufacturers and are hereby recognized.

CONTACT: Merrill Freund Lisa Jacobson

Schwartz Communications MapInfo Corporation

(617) 431-0770 (518) 285-7205