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QuickStart Guide IntroductionWhat is Poynt? Poynt is a free local search service available for multiple platforms. Poynt was designed specifically to help you, the consumer, find information on nearby businesses for products and services that you want to buy - all based on a location you specify. Click on the link below to view the QuickStart Guide for your preferred instant messaging application: Poynt for Windows Live™ MessengerGetting started
Set a Search Location Because Poynt delivers search results based on your keyword and search location, the first time you use Poynt you will be prompted to enter a location you wish to search from.
To set your search location, type: "set location to <your location here>". Poynt also uses QuickCodes to help easily navigate the service - you can use "sl" or "set loc" instead of "set location to." For example:
"set location to space needle" When entering an address, follow the format: "address, city, state/province" including commas.
For Example: Once your location has been set, you do not need to set it again unless you wish to search from a different location. Using the Activity Window Poynt offers enhanced, built-in functionality that allows you to see interactive maps, watch movie trailers, and buy movie tickets online. To take advantage of this functionality, click the Accept link. Once the Activity Window is open, you will no longer be prompted to accept an invitation during your session. You can right-click on a map at any time to access additional enhanced features, including setting your search location and getting driving directions. Here's what the invite looks like:
Not all versions of Windows Live™ Messenger support this enhanced, built-in functionality. This may be the case if you are using older versions of this application, are accessing Messenger through a web browser or running on a Mac. Navigating Poynt Poynt is divided into five main sections:
You are able to jump from one section to the other by using commands known as QuickCodes, noted above. You can use QuickCodes at any time to jump from one section to another.
QuickCodes have been established to help users navigate the system quickly and easily. They are available for the major commands within the service:
Searching the Yellow Pages Poynt provides business and service listings based on your keyword search. We collaborate with Yellow Pages Group in Canada and Superpages.com in the United States to provide the most accurate, up-to-date information available. To search the Yellow Pages enter the QuickCode "yp" from anywhere in the system. From there, you can search based on keywords such as: restaurants, fitness center, auto repair, etc. - most any business or service category you can think of. Results will appear showing those businesses nearest to your search location. Detailed information, including address, phone number and driving directions is available by typing the number corresponding to the business you're interested in. Yellow Page Search Example - Florist near the Calgary Tower, Calgary, Alberta: 
Type florist in the chat window:
A list of florists near your search location will be shown, with the closest businesses listed first.
For business details such as address and phone number, type the number that corresponds to that business. In this example, we typed 3 for information on Twigs & Company. You can also mouse over the corresponding icon on the map for business details. Click "Options" for driving directions and other enhanced features. When more than one business is at the same location, the map icon will appear with a tilde (~). For users in the United States, the Activity Window defaults to a listing of advertisers. Click on an advertiser's name for more details or how to view their location on a map. "Click Here" icons and other logos will take you to websites with business hours, payment methods, and more.
Type "map" to change the Activity Window from the default ad listings to the interactive map. Searching for a Movie Poynt delivers movie information including theaters and show times, a cast listing and synopsis, trailers, and now the ability to purchase movie tickets. To search for a movie, type the QuickCode "movie" from anywhere in the system. From there, you can search by theatre name, movie title and genre. Your results will be displayed based on proximity to your location - those closest to your search location will appear first. You can search for movies playing on specific dates. Within the movie category, you can search for movies using numerous date references including today, tomorrow, or by a day of the week such as Friday. You can also enter a specific date reference, such as January 1. Movie information is typically available for the current week.
To find a movie by Genre, type "2" or "Genre".
To search for a Drama, type "3" or "drama".
Poynt will display the list of dramas playing near your search location. Once you've decided upon a movie, type the corresponding number for theatre locations and show times. To buy tickets, click on the desired show times in the Activity Window, you can view the movie trailer, read the movie's synopsis and see who is starring. Storing a Frequently Used Location The section "My Locations" allows you to store and nickname frequently used search locations. For example, you may want one location to be your home, another to be your school or office, and Grandma's house to be yet another. If you plan on traveling, you can even set locations in another city - anywhere in North America. You can store as many locations as you like. To add a frequently used location, type the QuickCode "ml" from anywhere in the system ("ml" is short for "My Locations"). From there, you can create a personalized location:
Type "add" or click on the Add Location link on the map. While in My Locations, you can also right-click anywhere on the map to add it as a saved location.
Enter the location (address, landmark, zip code, postal code, city) and give the location a nickname - in this example, "school." When entering an address, always use the following format: address, city, state/province, separated by commas. For Example: "set loc to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC" If you wish to search near one of your locations, type "sl <nickname>". For Example: "sl home" "sl work" "sl Trump Tower" Want More Help? You can type "help" at any time if you need assistance. If an answer to your question isn't provided in the Help or FAQ sections, use the Feedback form in the Activity Window to send us a message. Be sure to include your email address if you would like an answer. We will endeavor to respond to your request within 2 business days. You can also reach us by email at feedback@mypoynt.com.
Adding a Windows Live Messenger Contact
Poynt for AOL Instant Messenger (AIM®)Getting started
Set a Search Location
To receive the most accurate results, set your search location using an address, landmark, zip code, postal code or city name - anywhere in Canada or the United States. To set your search location, type: "set location to <your location here>". Poynt also uses QuickCodes to help easily navigate the service - you can use "sl" or "set loc" instead of "set location to." For example:
"set location to space needle" When entering an address, follow the format: "address, city, state/province" including commas.
For Example: Once your location has been set, you do not need to set it again unless you wish to search from a different location.
Poynt is divided into five main sections:
You are able to jump from one section to the other by using commands known as QuickCodes, noted above. You can use QuickCodes any time to jump from one section to another. QuickCodes have been established to help users navigate the system quickly and easily. They are available for the major commands within the service:
Using the browser window Poynt offers enhanced, built-in functionality that allows you to see interactive maps, movie trailers and more. To take advantage of this functionality, click the displayed link. Here are some examples of what an invite looks like:
Not all web browsers support this enhanced, built-in functionality. This may be the case if you are using an older version of Internet Explorer, are accessing AIM through a web browser or are running on a Mac. Poynt provides business and service listings based on your keyword search. We collaborate with the Yellow Pages Group in Canada and Superpages.com in the United States to provide the most accurate, up-to-date information available. To search the Yellow Pages enter the QuickCode "yp" from anywhere in the system. From there, you can search based on keywords such as: restaurants, fitness center, auto repair, etc. - most any business or service category you can think of. Results will appear showing those businesses nearest to your search location. Detailed information, including address, phone number and driving directions is available by typing the number corresponding to the business you're interested in. Yellow Pages Search Example - Florist near the Calgary Tower, Calgary, Alberta:
Type florist in the chat window.
A list of florists near your search location will be shown, with the closest businesses listed first. Click the link to map these locations and they are displayed in a new browser window.
For business details such as address and phone number, type the number that corresponds to that business. In this example, we typed 1 for information on Twigs & Company. You can also mouse over the corresponding icon on the map for business details. Click "Options" for driving directions and other enhanced features. When more than one business is at the same location, the map icon will appear with a tilde (~). Searching for a Movie Poynt delivers movie information including theaters and show times, a cast listing and synopsis, trailers, and now the ability to purchase movie tickets. To search for a movie, type the QuickCode "movie" from anywhere in the system. From there, you can search by theatre name, movie title and genre. Your results will be displayed based on proximity to your location - those closest to your search location will appear first. You can search for movies playing on specific dates. Within the movie category, you can search for movies using numerous date references including today, tomorrow, or by a day of the week such as Friday. You can also enter a specific date reference, such as January 1. Movie information is typically available for the current week.
To find a movie by Genre, type "2" or "Genre".
To search for a Drama, type "2" or "drama".
Poynt will display the list of comedies playing near your search location. Once you've decided upon a movie, type the corresponding number for theatre locations and show times. To buy tickets, click on the desired show time in the Activity Window. In the browser window, you can view the movie trailer, read the movie's synopsis and see who is starring. Storing a Frequently Used Location The section "My Locations" allows you to store and nickname frequently used search locations. For example, you may want one location to be your home, another to be your school or office, and Grandma's house to be yet another. If you plan on traveling, you can even set locations in another city - anywhere in North America. You can store as many locations as you like. To add a frequently used location, type the QuickCode "ml" from anywhere in the system. ("ml" is short for "my locations"). From there, you can create a personalized location:
Type "add" or click on the Add Location link on the map.
Enter the location (address, landmark, zip code, postal code, city) and give the location a nickname - in this example, "school." When entering an address, always use the following format: address, city, state/province, separated by commas. For Example: "set loc to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC" If you wish to search near one of your locations, type "sl <nickname>". For Example: "sl home" "sl work" "sl school" Want More Help? You can type "help" at any time if you need assistance. If an answer to your question isn't provided in the Help or FAQ sections, use the Feedback form in the browser window to send us a message. Be sure to include your email address if you would like an answer. We will endeavor to respond to your request within 2 business days. You can also reach us by email at feedback@mypoynt.com.
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in the main window for Windows Live Messenger, at the top right of your contact list.
Because Poynt delivers search results based on your keyword and search location, the first time you use Poynt you will be prompted to enter a location you wish to search from.
Navigating Poynt
