News

MapPoint Loses .NET From its Name

In its campaign to strip the overused .NET name from as many products as possible, Microsoft recently renamed MapPoint .NET to the MapPoint Web Service.

MapPoint had been one of the most legitimate recipients of the .NET name, as MapPoint is a service that Microsoft offers for developers to provide location-based information in their applications.

But as Microsoft chairman and chief software architect Bill Gates has admitted, Microsoft was too aggressive with the .NET name, and the overuse diluted its meaning.

In a formal statement, a Microsoft spokesman said, "This change supports Microsoft's overall effort to clarify the naming and branding strategy around .NET. As support for Web services becomes intrinsic across our entire product line, we are moving toward a consistent naming and branding strategy to better enable partners to affiliate with this strategy and customers to identify .NET-enabled products."

About the Author

Scott Bekker is editor in chief of Redmond Channel Partner magazine.

Featured

  • Hands-On AI Skills Now Outshine Certs in Salary Stakes

    For AI-related roles, employers are prioritizing verifiable, hands-on abilities over framed certificates -- and they're paying a premium for it.

  • Roadblocks in Enterprise AI: Data and Skills Shortfalls Could Cost Millions

    Businesses risk losing up to $87 million a year if they fail to catch up with AI innovation, according to the Couchbase FY 2026 CIO AI Survey released this month.

  • Microsoft Cuts Windows 11 Recovery Time with New Update

    Microsoft has introduced two key enhancements to Windows 11 aimed at minimizing downtime and streamlining error resolution.

  • Microsoft Offers Support Extensions for Exchange 2016 and 2019

    Microsoft has introduced a paid Extended Security Update (ESU) program for on-premises Exchange Server 2016 and 2019, offering a crucial safety cushion as both versions near their Oct. 14, 2025 end-of-support date.

Most   Popular