Downloading Maps for Offline Use

New to Windows Phone 8 is the capability to download maps for offline use. The built-in Map app allows the user to download maps that are stored locally on the device. If the user has not pre-downloaded a map from the built-in Maps app, the Map control downloads map information as the user manipulates the control, which requires an active Internet connection.

You can launch the Map app to allow the user to select a map to download using the MapDownloaderTask launcher located in the Microsoft.Phone.Tasks namespace, as shown in the following example:

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MapDownloaderTask mapDownloaderTask = new MapDownloaderTask();
mapDownloaderTask.Show();

The sample’s MapViewModel contains a DownloadMapCommand that is executed via an application bar menu item. When the MapDownloaderTask is shown, the app is deactivated.