Thread: We are breaking new ground at www.PropertyMaps.com

You have a decent product, but really it's just another Google map. There are millions of Google map products on the market.

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We have patented map technology that we are rolling out in slect markets throughout the U.S. Right now we are finishing up the second generation of this technology that cleans up the interface and has a few more bells and whistles. You can see a sample of the first generation map technology here:

http://www.hiltonhead360.com/hiltonhead_map_new/swf/

Some of the neat things about our map tech is that we can plot points directly on the map, through CSV files (ideal for batch uploads), and through our CMS interface. We recently added the ability to provide streaming video from any of the map points.

The thing I like most about our map tech is that you do not need a geocoded map. Heck, you draw a map on a napkin, and by setting a few reference points we could geocode any location on that map.

We can also use one master database file to and then create category or user specific maps. For example, iIf you go to the main site at http://www.hiltonhead360.com, about 1/3 of the way down the page you will see some of the other category maps.

To take it a step further, this one map also feeds hundreds of customer specific maps. For example, a real estate agent can show only their own listings on their own user specific map, grouped agents by company, or all MLS listings.

With our 2nd generation maps we also switched to a vector mapping process and improved the code to speed up the loading of the map.

Once we finish the 2nds generation of our map it will be available in our own Hilton Head area, Savannah, Charleston, and Atlanta for use in our own portal sites as well as our real estate clients in those markets. After that, we are planning to have the map available in over 200 major markets in the U.S. Our final goal is to sell in demand maps for any market in the world.

Hi, thanks for the response. I like your flash based map, very nice detail. We took a different approach however, because as we all know many people do their surfing while at work. Corporations typically do not allow Flash Player due to the fact that, regardless of its powerful capabilities, its been used primarily to deliver ads. Most corporate users also do not have software install permissions and many people also run FlashBlock on their Firefox browsers.

The Google Maps part is really only skin deep. We also allow users to switch rendering engines to Microsoft Virtual Earth. Our engine also offers custom J2ME and .NET applications for mobile devices such as Blackberry and Palm Treo. Open source map rendering engines will be supported once they're a little more mature.

I know what you mean about the geocoding--that is a massive headache. For engine v4, we're just beginning to research how feasible it is to plot the actual lot boundaries instead of a geocoded push-pin. States that use the Public Land Survey System for legal descriptions seem possible but the older metes-and-bounds descriptions used in the original 13 colonies are going to be a challenge.

If perhaps you'd be interested in co-development, lets talk privately: jbeck at propertymaps.com.

Originally Posted by jbeck

If perhaps you'd be interested in co-development, lets talk privately: jbeck at propertymaps.com.

Please don't take what I said the wrong way, you do have a nice product, and there is a market out there for that product (and a lot of competition). We stayed away from Google maps and others because of branding issues. We want this to be our application only, not partnered with someone else. We also don't want to be shut out if and when Google changes the rules or terms of use for their maps.

While I can't go into details, there's a lot more to our technology than meets the eye. It's so cutting edge that even the guys that power your maps have shown an interest in our product $$$$$$$$$

One of the neat things we will also be doing is feeding our map data from the regional portals to national portals. We also have the ability to place banner or text ads through the map system, then feed those ads locally, regionally, or nationally.

Our biggest challenge right now is obtaining the maps to use in our product. We have talked with some of the big map companies (Rand McNally, etc.) but most of these companies are afraid of exposing their maps on the web. We may end up hiring artists to develop our maps instead.

We don't worry about the companies that may try and limit Flash viewing. Flash is pretty much a standard component of every web browser. Plus, as broadband usage increases, multimedia plays a larger role in the web each day.

I do appreciate your offer, but we're locked in with our map project now. We have already invested 2 years and more money than I care to discuss, and our project is well funded.

I have bookmarked your web site, and will check back often and see how things are coming along. Please keep us posted here on the forum as you develop new tools and apps.

Originally Posted by HHI Golf Guy

Please don't take what I said the wrong way, you do have a nice product, and there is a market out there for that product (and a lot of competition). We stayed away from Google maps and others because of branding issues. We want this to be our application only, not partnered with someone else. We also don't want to be shut out if and when Google changes the rules or terms of use for their maps.

While I can't go into details, there's a lot more to our technology than meets the eye. It's so cutting edge that even the guys that power your maps have shown an interest in our product $$$$$$$$$

Thanks for the nice compliment. There definitely are quite a bit of map mash-ups out there. Besides mapping, I think the real value of what we're doing is synthesizing a national MLS search. There are only a handful of sites that have accomplished this besides Realtor.com, and we are the first one comprised of independent brokers (firm affiliation does not matter) as opposed to franchisees.

If you check out the traffic statistics at Realtor.org under the technology page you'll see the sites I was referring to are literally dominating Internet traffic. A national search scope is clearly a competitive advantage. Yet 85% of us brokers are independent, so how do we compete? That is the problem PropertyMaps was really created to solve.

I agree the Internet is moving to multi-media and I think it's very intelligent to be forward looking with your strategy. That is the same spirit behind our mobile device applications. We also have plans to accommodate video content, and I guess it looks like the most efficient platform for this is... you guessed it, Flash!

Would you also please keep me updated with your progress? I'd like to stay in touch. Perhaps synergies may develop as we both move forward.

Warm regards,

John

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I do have another question about your maps. Do your clients have to sign up with an enterprise (business) account to use Google maps on their site? Or do you pay a fee to be a reseller or facilitator of the Google mapping API?

[quote=ltcobretti;23028]"Your search for [B]

Originally Posted by HHI Golf Guy

Do your clients have to sign up with an enterprise (business) account to use Google maps on their site? Or do you pay a fee to be a reseller or facilitator of the Google mapping API?

We're running everything under our own API key. Google calls a lot trying to sell us the enterprise product. I've decided to wait until we reach the maximum hit threshold before we upgrade. We've also decided not to put all of our eggs in the Google basket. That was the thinking behind also supporting Microsoft Virtual Earth, so depending on how the ads look that I understand are on their way to g-maps, we can change our primary engine.

I really like the site, there is some great tools on there and I like the way that the google map pin points the locations of the properties for sale.

Can't believe that it even tells you people on the *** offenders list within the area! Great!

Really great site, I can see alot of agents going along the same path as it is so user friendly but the only down side is that it takes forever to load.