Maps and Virtual Earth Privacy Supplement

Note that this page is a supplement to the Microsoft Online Privacy Statement . In order to understand the data collection and use practices relevant for a particular site or service, you should read both the Microsoft Online Privacy Statement and any applicable supplement.

Maps and Virtual Earth Privacy Supplement

last updated: January 2006

Microsoft MapPoint Web Service

Mapping features on Microsoft's sites and services are based in part on the Microsoft MapPoint Web Service. The MapPoint Web Service is a set of mapping and related services that is accessed through an application such as a website, desktop software, or mobile application. When you submit information, such as an address to be viewed on a map, to the application, that application passes it to the MapPoint Web Service for processing.

We keep track of all requests the application you are using makes to the MapPoint Web Service. Location-related information in the request or derived from the request, such as latitude and longitude, is used for calculating payments to our data vendors so that we may operate the service. We will occasionally capture all information in the request for use in testing and maintenance of the service. This information includes the date and time of the request and location-related information you may have provided to the application such as latitude and longitude, address, place name, or the start and end address of a route.

Location Finder

Location Finder uses the wireless access points visible to your computer to determine your location. No personal information such as your name or contact information is sent to Microsoft by Location Finder.

In online mode, information about the access points will be sent to Microsoft and the online Location Finder service will determine your location. This information includes the signal strength and MAC address (a unique hardware identifier) of each access point, as well as standard HTTP request information such as your IP address. None of this information is used to identify you.

The online service calculates your location from a database of known access point locations and returns an approximate longitude and latitude. If the service is unable to determine your location from these access points, other methods may be used such as IP address mapping.

Location requests made to the online service are stored in a transaction log. The log is used to improve the quality and accuracy of the service. This includes adding locations of new access points, updating out-of-date access point locations, and refining the IP address mapping database.

In offline mode, the Microsoft Location Finder product installed on your system will determine your location using the access point database installed on your machine by the product. Your location information will not be sent to Microsoft.

Location Finder will periodically contact Microsoft to check for Location Finder product updates when you are in online mode and attempting to determine your location. Microsoft will send the current version information back to Location Finder and if there is an update available from Microsoft, Location Finder will give you a choice to download and install the update. If you consent to the update, the update will be downloaded and installed on your computer.

If you use the online Location Finder service or periodically check for updates, we may collect anonymous information about your usage of the product, including version number, features used, and application settings to help improve the product.