TROY, N.Y., June 23,1992 -- MapInfo Corporation, the leading developer of
desktop mapping software, is shipping its new MapBasic Development
Environment for use with MapInfo Version 2.0 for Windows desktop mapping
software.

MapBasic is the first programming language that allows corporate developers
to customize desktop mapping applications for a given industry or
department. Together with MapInfo Version 2.0 for Windows, the MapBasic
Development Environment will enable the widespread integration of desktop
mapping into business computing. Both products are being demonstrated
during PC EXPO, New York City, June 23-25.

"Until now, people had to learn some complicated concepts like graphic
databases and the layering of data to use desktop mapping effectively,"
says Sean O'Sullivan, MapInfo co-founder and chairman. "MapBasic opens the
door for corporate and third-party developers to create applications that
hold the user's hand. Mainstream corporate and government users will be
able to take advantage of the power of geographic management of data in
their day-to-day work."

MapInfo desktop mapping software links geography and data stored in popular
databases and spreadsheets such as dBASE, Lotus 1-2-3, Excel as well as
delimited ASCII files. It is estimated that up to 85 percent of an
organization's data can include a geographic component, such as ZIP Code,
area code, street address, city and state or an organization's own
internal record-keeping codes.

MapInfo lets organizations manage and analyze all of this valuable data
geographically -- in order to quickly see the patterns, relationships and
trends that are difficult to identify when reviewing database reports and
spreadsheets. Its ease-of-use; portability across Windows, Macintosh, Sun
and HP platforms; and intuitive structure significantly reduces the costs
of application development and deployment throughout an organization.

MapBasic Development Environment Features and Functionality

A range of important features in the MapBasic Development Environment gives
developers the ability to create application programs for thousands of
endusers. MapBasic can also be used to create a range of utilities that
extend the functionality of MapInfo.

Key features include:

BASIC-like language -- The MapBasic language is very similar to structured
BASIC, so developers can use the programming principles they already know
and code libraries they have already developed.

SQL -- SQL is built into MapBasic. In addition to Standard SQL, geographic
extensions to Standard SQL have been included, such as "within,"
"intersects" and "contains." A single MapBasic command can perform complex
relational database queries.

User Interface -- Programmers can custom-design new menus and dialog boxes
to create applications that incorporate the end-user's own business
terminology.

Multi-platform -- An application developed for Windows runs unchanged under
Macintosh, Sun or HP.

Geographic Analysis Tools -- Geographic features set MapBasic apart from
other programming languages. Users can add graphical objects to maps,
create buffers, find perimeters and distances, etc.

Connectivity -- MapBasic applications can "talk" to other Windows
applications such as, a Visual Basic program or an Excel spreadsheet
program through Dynamic Data Exchange (DDE). Dynamic Link Libraries (DLL)
in Windows enables developers to easily incorporate external routines into
MapInfo applications.

Debugging Environment -- A built-in debugging environment helps developers
program complex applications. Syntax errors are displayed in an error
message window. When the developer clicks on an error message, MapBasic
will move the cursor to the line of the error in the corresponding source
code.

Applications to Go

"Every industry has reasons to analyze data geographically," O'Sullivan
notes. "But their objectives are different, depending on what they need to
do. With MapBasic, developers can serve up applications to order."

All MapBasic applications are created within the MapBasic Development
Environment. Once compiled, the applications can run in MapInfo Version
2.0 for Windows as well as MapInfo Version 2.0 for Macintosh, Sun or HP,
which will be available later this year. Once developed, implemented and
distributed throughout a company, end-users get a business tool that they
can begin using right away on a desktop computer.

The result is enterprise-wide use of desktop mapping. End-users in a
nationwide insurance company will use desktop mapping applications
designed with the MapBasic Development Environment in these corporate
areas:

New Business Development -- Business development staff tracks prospects,
current status, potential revenue and assigns representatives to
territories.

Account Management -- Field representatives track their accounts, types of
policies, expiration dates, etc. Their contact management data are
displayed geographically in MapInfo to efficiently plan business trips and
schedule appointments.

Personnel -- The human resources and operations departments show corporate
office locations along with information on departments and employees to
develop painless consolidation plans.

Marketing -- Marketing managers combine demographic and statistical data
for a territory to create customer profiles for various products and
develop focused marketing programs.

"The ability to design business computing applications like these supports
the momentum for the widespread use and acceptance of desktop mapping
technology," O'Sullivan says. "The MapBasic Development Environment makes
it happen."

Availability, Pricing

MapInfo Version 2.0 for Windows is priced at $995 and the MapBasic
Development Environment is priced at $795. MapInfo customers (Windows and
DOS) can upgrade to MapInfo Version 2.0 for Windows for $179 until June
30, after which the cost will be $250.

MapInfo desktop mapping software is available for Windows, Macintosh, DOS,
Sun and HP computers. It has a built-in SQL relational database management
system and works directly with popular databases and spreadsheets such as
dBASE, Lotus, Excel and delimited ASCII files. Founded in 1986, MapInfo
Corp. is headquartered in Troy, N.Y. and is the industry leader in desktop
mapping with more than 25,000 units shipped worldwide. The privately held
company markets its products worldwide through direct sales, resellers and
distributors.

MapInfo, 200 Broadway, Troy, NY 12180
518-274-6000

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