ArcGIS 9.1 users can evaluate and install the Data Interoperability extension right from their ArcGIS Desktop product.

The next major release of ArcGIS—ArcGIS 9.1—is being readied for release this spring. It represents a full release of ArcGIS Desktop (ArcReader, ArcView, ArcEditor, and ArcInfo), ArcGIS Engine, ArcGIS Server, ArcIMS, and ArcSDE.

ArcGIS 9.1 focuses on improved quality, stability, and performance. It includes user-requested quality improvements and enhancements across all the products in addition to all service pack improvements. ArcGIS 9.1 key features include

• More than 1,700 minor improvements
• More robust geoprocessing experience—new geoprocessing tools added to the ArcGIS Desktop products: 63 tools to ArcView, 86 tools to ArcEditor, and 22 tools to ArcInfo
• New easy-to-use Merge tool for combining data
• Many productivity enhancements (pan to selection, pause drawing, better support for longer field names, swipe tool, and much more)
• ArcGIS Network Analyst as a standard optional extension for advanced routing and network analysis in ArcGIS Desktop, ArcGIS Engine, and ArcGIS Server (see ArcGIS 9.1 Network Analyst Is Here)
• ArcGIS Schematics integrated as a standard optional ArcGIS Desktop extension
• ArcGIS Data Interoperability integrated as a standard optional ArcGIS Desktop extension
• Ability to publish 3D globes, as well as 2D maps, using ArcGIS Publisher and to read them using ArcReader
• Esri Developer Network (EDN) to address the needs of the developer community, including greater availability of additional developer help and developer samples (see Esri Developer Network (EDN) Launched at Partner Conference)
• A new "Save As" tool to ease migration
• New improved 150 m worldwide natural view imagery
• Broader support of Open Geospatial Consortium, Inc., map standards, including Web Map Services client, Web Feature Services, and Catalog Services

Also, with the release of ArcGIS 9.1, Esri is integrating the functionality and data of several ArcGIS extensions into the ArcGIS Desktop products (see table below).

All ArcGIS Desktop users who are current on their maintenance will automatically receive ArcGIS 9.1. Users in the United States who are not current on maintenance should contact Esri at 1-800-447-9778. Outside the United States, contact your local Esri distributor. For more information about ArcGIS, visit www.esri.com/arcgis.