deCarta "Developer Zone" Tops 1000 Registered Active Users

deCarta, the leading supplier of software and services for the Location-Based Services (LBS) industry, today announced that over 1000 LBS developers are actively using its Developer Zone, a free online workspace environment that enables quick and easy prototyping for the development of location-enabled Internet, Mobile, Personal Navigation and Enterprise applications.

Originally launched in North America in June 2005 and expanded to Europe in February 2006, the site (http://developer.decarta.com) allows easy access to deCarta’s high-efficiency development software and industry-proven Drill Down Server® geospatial platform, sample code, documentation and various tools, as well as use of map and point-of-interest (POI) data from leading content providers. LBS developers find the Developer Zone streamlines the process of assembling and integrating many separate pieces of geospatial data and technology and delivers a pre-production application or demo in as little as a day.

“When we launched the Developer Zone, our vision was to let LBS application developers focus on quickly creating outstanding location based applications without also having to arrange for full deployment and maintenance of those applications ,” said J. Kim Fennell, President and CEO of deCarta. “We’re very proud of achieving that vision. 1000 active users of our Developer Zone embody the validation of the high value our entire suite of geospatial platform solutions and services brings to the LBS developer community and our customers.”

Using deCarta’s Developer Zone

deCarta’s Developer Zone provides North American and European map and POI data from the industry’s leading content providers, including satellite imagery. The service appears to the developer as a simple URL, to which XML can be posted. The server returns XML, containing URLs for images, and standards-based XML elements for representing addresses, routes, POIs and a variety of other structures common to location-based services. Included in the online service is a standards-compliant (OpenLS™) application programming interface (API), JavaScript API, access to map and POI data, documentation, software downloads, live sample applications and design tools, and online support. The company’s service is offered for free to application developers for pre-commercial development and testing of location applications. deCarta’s Developer Zone is also linked to other partner LBS application developer sites including Cingular and NAVTEQ.