Advantage API Features

The Advantage API solution, which is based on the Advantage product line’s core
MapQuest technology platform, offers the following features:
• Mapping. Display, interact with, and customize high-quality maps. Add
custom icons, annotate maps with drawings, or customize map styles.
Display different levels of detail or icons at different map scales.
• Geocoding. Assign latitude/longitude coordinates to a street address, a postal
code, a city, a state, or location. Receive detailed information about each
match to decide how to best process ambiguous or low confidence matches.
• Driving directions (routing). Generate visual and/or textual navigation
directions from one location to another with optional intermediate
destinations. Select the fastest route, the shortest route, or other route
options. Generate an “optimized” multi-destination route to reorder
intermediate destinations into the fastest route between origin and
destination.
• Proximity searching. Search for the closest locations within a set radius, a
rectangular or defined polygonal area, or along a drive route. Use dynamic
database queries to search for specific criteria about that location. API clients
can upload and manage locations using a set of tools hosted by MapQuest.
• Proximity by Drive Time. You can use search APIs in conjunction with
routing APIs to search for all locations within a certain proximity to an origin
point. You may search by either driving distance or driving time. Proximity
searching by drive distance or time can be particularly useful when searching
near bodies of water or mountains, where straight-line distance does not
accurately reflect drive time.
• Points of Interest (POIs). Search your own custom location databases
containing location information for stores, restaurants, hotels, etc., or license
large Points of Interest databases and gain access to location information
concerning local landmarks or businesses.
• Automatic data selection. Use MapQuest’s proprietary data selection
technology to provide the best data for each request, dynamically choosing
among multiple data sets from the world’s leading data providers.
• Voice-recognition integration capability. Create a voice interface for location
searching using MapQuest’s valued partnership with NetByTel, the leading
provider of Interactive Voice Response (IVR) systems.
• Technical support. Access technical support using comprehensive online
documentation, or obtain phone and e-mail support from dedicated business
account managers and knowledgeable 24/7 technical support personnel.
• Reporting. Generate various transaction reports using an online interface.
Use custom geographic area reports or other reports to track trends and
provide the basis for vital business decisions.