Utilize location & mapping features to add value to Windows Phone 8 apps

Location and mapping are at the heart of many of the most compelling apps and it’s easy to see why: people love using their smart phones to find and share information about where they are and what’s around them.

Microsoft supports both a unified location API and a vibrant map control, and in Windows Phone 8, these services are even more robust. With a new map control based on Nokia’s HERE service data, plus a new converged location API, you can now utilize most of your location code across both Windows and Windows Phone.

If you are looking into leveraging location and mapping in your app, here are the key resources you need in order to get started:

Official Documentation

• Maps and Navigation for Windows Phone 8
• How to add a Map control to a page in Windows Phone 8
• How to display route and directions on a map in Windows Phone 8
• Map control design guidelines for Windows Phone
• Location for Windows Phone
• How to get the phone’s current location for Windows Phone 8
• How to continuously track the phone’s location for Windows Phone 8
• How to run location-tracking apps in the background for Windows Phone 8

Official Sample Code

• Simple Map control sample
• Route mapper sample
• Location Service Sample

Nokia Developer Content

• Nokia Developer: Maps and Navigation on Windows Phone
• Nokia Developer Wiki: Maps on Windows Phone
• Code Sample: Nokia Map Explorer

Video Content

• BUILD 2013: Building the Best Mapping Apps for Windows Phone Using the HERE platform
• Building Apps for Windows Phone 8 Jumpstart: Maps and Location

We encourage you to be creative with location-based services in your apps – get started today with these resources and as always, we welcome your feedback and ideas. Share them via Twitter @wpdev.