Today Microsoft announced an expansion of its MSN Direct ‘Send to GPS’ feature for navigation devices, an option it first introduced at CES 2008. Now any website owner can implement an API to allow visitors to deliver address and business information to compatible devices.

Microsoft lists several products from Garmin’s “nuvi” line as well as a number of Alpine and Pioneer devices as being MSN Direct-enabled; some are able to gather data wirelessly or through a USB connection.

As with all things on the Web, the strength of a brand or service is very much in line with its numerical value. Its ability to gather a premium supply of users, in other words. And though something as arguably non-essential as a ‘Send to GPS’ option may not catch the eye of most Web users, making it available regardless gives Microsoft a chance at a more complete reach on the location-sensitive market. Which is certainly growing to noticeable degree. The new MSN Direct API simply provides an opening for more website developers to implement the service per their users’ convenience.

Like Microsoft, Google and MapQuest have each come to similar agreements with Garmin for the transfer of location data in recent months. Microsoft’s evolution of its ‘Send to GPS’ function is only sensible if it is to maintain optimal relevance across the broadest spectrum of websites.

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