Any value adding URLs to POI uploads?

I wonder the same thing. Or at least I used to. Is anybody really going to go to their GPSr to get the URL to "The Chew?" Probably not. I decided a long time ago to just provide the most important information: long/lat, "decent description of the name of the POI", street address, city, state, zip, telephone number."

Personally I don't see any need...

Aren't most people going to have already looked at the web site before they enter the destination? Sounds like it overlaps the functionality of smart phones and location aware programs like Yelp.

Technology is evolving at an exponential rate and we already have a GPS with browser and often full time internet connectivity in the form of a smart phone or tablet. Extra_POI_Editor has a field to enter a URL when creating a POI so the program's author considered this as an option for those who wanted to do so. I think for most, all we want is an accurate location and possibly a phone number to call ahead for reservations for example. The value of an include URL would most likely be dependent on a specific type of POI and whether the end user would find any benefit in having it available. For now, it seems just as easy to ask Google for a website, but who can predict what our GPSr will be capable of and how we will use it in the not so distant future?

I agree with TXRVer that the usefulness of URL’s and phone numbers would depend on the type and intended use of a particular POI file. For example, in my “Bike Trail” POI file series, I included both URL and phone in the comment field for bicycle shops and campgrounds near trails. From experience, I found it more reliable to get the information from the GPS instead of the smartphone. This is especially true in rural areas or deep valleys where 3G or 4G coverage is often weak or non-existent but cell phone service is available.

This information could be helpful in other POI files meant primarily for hand held GPS use by hikers, bikers and Kayakers who can’t always rely on good cell service.

I find URLs and fax numbers to be totally worthless in a POI file. While my unit may link to my phone via Bluetooth, it doesn't allow me to transmit a URL and I know of no FAX machines that are Bluetooth enabled.

Is it pointless? Not in my opinion.

Since you have them, why not include them? As was pointed out, EPE has a field for Email.

Now that is different from asking whether many people would ever use the field. As you have seen by the previous answers, most believe not.

But, having just returned from vacation, I have another perspective. The Charleston Historic Sites and Landmarks will serve as an example only (and I say this because this particular file has not been updated). Let's say I am staying nearby on John's Island or the Isle of Palms and want to spend a day in Charleston. I have my laptop with me and want to build an itinerary for tomorrow.

One of the things I would want to know is the times that places are open, if there is a cost, how long the typical tour takes, etc. If I had the URLs, I could just find 5 to 10 places in close proximity to each other and research them.

Indeed, if people were to think about it, there are many times when on vacation that being able to quickly know a URL for investigating some potential attraction would be helpful.

URLs for McDonalds? Well, I can make no case. Libraries, well sure. What hours are they open?

Since you already have it - WHY NOT!

...would I use it? Probably not. But that doesn't mean it's not useful for someone else.

I guess I should have said I personally wouldn't find it useful, but that doesn't mean someone else would feel the same. If it's not a whole lot of trouble, by all means include it. It's better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it.

This was the direction I was leaning, same sort of reasons as you gave. As others pointed out, with a smart phone I can browse and search, but having a URL already available in POIs such as you mention means I can go right there without having to try searches with different keywords first.

Of course in the case of libraries, searches are much simpler and more obvious.

Still, good input from all, and while many people may never use them, having URLs available already I may as well include them. Future POIs of interest to me may have much more relevance in capturing the URLs.

This was the direction I was leaning, same sort of reasons as you gave. As others pointed out, with a smart phone I can browse and search, but having a URL already available in POIs such as you mention means I can go right there without having to try searches with different keywords first.

Of course in the case of libraries, searches are much simpler and more obvious.

Still, good input from all, and while many people may never use them, having URLs available already I may as well include them. Future POIs of interest to me may have much more relevance in capturing the URLs.

I'm not following yor reasonoing here about hhaving URLson your GPS enabling your search with a phone. The onlything you could do would be to type the URL into the search box and that would take a lot longer than asking Google or Siri to do the search for you.