ArcIMS is the solution for delivering dynamic maps and GIS data and services via the Web. It provides a highly scalable framework for GIS Web publishing that meets the needs of corporate Intranets and demands of worldwide Internet access. ArcIMS services can be used by a wide range of clients including custom Web applications, the ArcGIS Desktop, and mobile and wireless devices. Using ArcIMS, city and local governments, businesses, and other organizations worldwide publish, discover, and share geospatial information.

With ArcIMS you can

• Publish high-quality interactive maps that can be accessed by thousands of people simultaneously over the Internet.
• Integrate data from multiple sources (Internet or local) and serve it on the Web.
• Make your maps, data, and metadata accessible using a variety of clients (mobile, desktop, browser).
• Use the highly scalable server architecture to accommodate growing demand for your services without having to rebuild applications.
• Create a central repository for publishing and browsing metadata.
• Make your GIS content more accessible by publishing metadata about your services.
  

Focused application delivery—ArcIMS can be used to deliver GIS to numerous internal users or to external users on the Internet. ArcIMS provides data access and simple, focused applications to users through a Web browser.

Publishing for professional GIS users—Many organizations publish GIS data for GIS professionals both within and outside their organization. Such ArcIMS applications are focused on data sharing between GIS professionals. The intended uses of the data are not necessarily well known ahead of time and can vary from user to user. GIS professionals use the data in their GIS along with other information to accomplish many tasks.

Technology for GIS networks—GIS Web publishing with ArcIMS is often the initial step in the implementation of enterprise GIS. GIS organizations publish and deliver GIS data and services to a broad audience, often across several departments. ArcIMS is important for building all the parts of a GIS network. ArcIMS includes tools for building a GIS portal with a metadata catalog such as search and discovery, data and metadata harvesting, gazetteer functions, and Web mapping applications.