Genes Reunited Press Office

Page views of Historical Records double with the launch of maps feature

Monday 16 February: Genes Reunited, the UK's leading genealogy site, has launched a unique new maps feature which enables people to see where their ancestors lived up to 168 years ago!

Now, when members search census data, not only can they view their results as they appear in the original records, but their findings are also brought to life on a detailed and high quality map.

Martine Parnell, Head of Genes Reunited, says: "We are extremely proud to offer this feature to our members. The maps will make it easier and much quicker for users to determine which records are relevant to their search. And it will help members to visualise the distance their relatives have wandered the country".

The new feature has been developed using Microsoft's Virtual Earth platform.

"The use of Virtual Earth in the Historical Records section not only provides a geographical visual aid to understand a family's history, it increases the accuracy of the results" explains Vikas Arora, Virtual Earth Solutions Specialist at Microsoft.

This latest feature adopted by Genes Reunited, follows its complete redesign last month. Parnell continues: "We aim to continue developing our products throughout 2009 to provide our members with an all round satisfying and valuable experience when tracing their family history".

Genes Reunited is the UK's biggest genealogy site, with over 9 million registered members - one in four of the UK's adult online population. Its archives include over 650 million names, with a new one added every second. Genes Reunited is owned by ITV along with sister sites Friends Reunited and Friends Reunited Dating.

About Genes Reunited.

Genes Reunited was launched in 2003 as a sister-site to the Internet phenomenon Friends Reunited. Since then it has grown to become the UK's largest genealogy website.

It marked a revolution in genealogy and ancestry by combining them with Internet social-networking. Members are able to build their family tree by posting it on the site and investigating which ancestors they share with other members. They can also search historical records such as census, birth, death, marriage and military records.

Genes has over nine million members and over 650 million names listed. One new name is added to the site every single second.

Media enquiries:

Ella Gascoigne ella@friendsreuinted.co.uk 01883 724 358

About Microsoft Visual Earth

The Microsoft Virtual Earth platform is a set of services providing quality mapping and location-based data to visualize information in the context of location. You can see and use rich photography and imagery, do more with the platform's functionality to connect with customers and gain business insight, and get more value though Microsoft's commitment to the platform.