15/05/2014
Following recent negotiations with Google, Distinctive Systems has been appointed a Google OEM Partner and has licensed the Google Maps Platform for integration into our Coach Manager private hire and contract booking system and our Tour Booking System.
Google Maps is the most advanced mapping solution on the market. The annual cost for us to license it for unlimited use by our clients, as an integrated part of our software, is substantial. Despite this, we will be providing the integrations, including the use of Google Maps, entirely free of charge to all clients with a current software maintenance or subscription agreement. This functionality will be available to every user of our software at these clients.
Support for our existing Microsoft MapPoint integration will continue for the foreseeable future. However, we expect most clients will migrate to Google Maps immediately when they receive the updated software version.
Google Maps is a worldwide solution, so, for the very first time, we are now in a position to provide our many clients in Australia, New Zealand and other locations not covered by MapPoint with an integrated mapping solution.
A major benefit of Google Maps is that as a web-based solution it is effectively permanently up-to-date. Our integration will also include all the familiar features of the standalone free version including street views, satellite views and awareness of traffic conditions and road works.
In common with our existing Coach Manager MapPoint integration, Google Maps will be fully integrated with our built-in price calculator and will be able to plan routes and calculate travelling times and distances. In our Tour Booking System it will be used for defining and displaying home pick-up areas and any associated supplements, for locating and displaying standard pick-up points and for optimising home pick-up routes.
The expected release date for the Coach Manager integration is mid to late August, with TBS following shortly afterwards.
The Google logo is a trademark of Google Inc.
Distinctive Systems is delighted to welcome two new members of staff to our development team.
Our all new Driver App allowing drivers to view their bookings and perform daily walk-around checks has now been released.
Our latest classroom and online training courses are designed to help you and your staff get the maximum possible benefit from our systems.
The National Bus and Coach Show 2024 will be held at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre on 17th - 18th September.
The 2024 New Zealand Bus & Coach Association Conference will be held in Auckland on 1st - 3rd October.
The Coach Tourism and Transport Council of Ireland's (CTTC) biennial Coach & Bus Show makes a welcome return to Dublin's RDS Simmonscourt on 2nd-3rd November 2024.
Euro Bus Expo returns to the NEC, Birmingham on 12th - 14th November 2024. The event will showcase all the latest buses, coaches, mini and midi vehicles, equipment, components and services.
The BIC National Conference 2024 will be held at the Hotel Grand Chancellor in Hobart, Tasmania on 20th - 22nd November.