From Pre-Trip Planning to On-the-Road Driving Navigation, the Versatility of Microsoft Streets & Trips Helps Users Get the Most out of Their Travels

REDMOND, Wash., Feb. 15, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- As technology changes nearly every aspect of our world around us, it's also changing the way we travel. These days, laptops are becoming an essential travel accessory. Whether they're used to check work or personal e-mail, work with photos, update a travel blog or provide entertainment to the kids, many people won't leave home without their handy laptops. Beyond that, laptops make a great travel companion that can help guide travelers to their destinations. With the launch of the 2011 version of Microsoft Streets & Trips, travelers have a convenient, easy way to plan their adventures from beginning to end and find interesting places to stop along the way.

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Microsoft Streets & Trips helps users plan and personalize their travel before they hit the road. Casino? Winery? Cinema? Amusement park? There's a stop along the way for everyone when using Streets & Trips' updated 1.9 million points of interest to plan family travel. The 2011 version of Streets & Trips features updated street-level maps of the U.S., Canada and Mexico with more than 6.5 million miles of navigable roads. A fuel consumption manager helps consumers stay within budget before and during their trips. Once on the road, travelers can use Streets & Trips on their laptop to find necessities -- without an Internet connection -- by searching for stops such as ATMs, hotels, restaurants and more. Travelers can also use Streets & Trips to plan their adventures in advance and then share the route with their GPS device for navigation along the way(2).

With Streets & Trips with GPS Locator travelers can turn their laptop into a navigation device to get spoken directions and large, full-screen navigation. If they get lost or make a wrong turn, automatic rerouting will get them back on track in no time.

"With more and more people bringing along their laptops while they travel, Microsoft Streets & Trips is the perfect companion to help make sure every trip goes smoothly from beginning to end," said Lori Stock, group product manager for Streets & Trips at Microsoft Corp. "From the Grand Canyon to Grandma's house -- and nearly everywhere in between -- Streets & Trips puts the perfect trip within reach. With updated maps and even more points of interest, it's easy to stay on track while including stops that will please everyone in the car."

Availability

Microsoft Streets & Trips is available for an estimated retail price of $39.95 (U.S.)(3). Microsoft Streets & Trips with GPS Locator is available for $69.95 (U.S.)(3). Consumers can give Streets & Trips a test drive by downloading a free 60-day trial version at http://www.microsoft.com/streets/travel.

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1 The NPD Group Inc./U.S. Retail Tracking (May 1999–August 2010)

2 GPS device sold separately. To share your route with your other GPS devices, you must export a GPX file to a GPX-compatible GPS device. Not all GPS devices are supported.

3 Estimated retail price. Actual retail price may vary.

For more information on Microsoft Streets and Trips:

http://www.microsoft.com/streets/travel

SOURCE Microsoft