Virtual Earth users can zoom, drag and pan traditional street maps or satellite photographs of the earth. The satellite images include overlays of street maps and other local information.
The service also features a search function to help find local address and business information on the maps, and this data can be layered on the map for easy reference.
The free service currently only works with US locations, but Microsoft plans to add other areas of the world in future versions.
A complimentary feature to Virtual Earth is the free, downloadable Microsoft Locate Me application, which allows users to determine their approximate location using Wi-Fi access points, and then centers that location on the Virtual Earth map.
Microsoft is offering Virtual Earth free to developers to use for noncommercial applications and Web sites.
The company is scheduled to release the second beta version of the program later this year and incorporate bird’s-eye, 45-degree views of buildings and local attraction sites. Google Earth currently allows users to tilt their viewpoints and see a 3D rendering of topography and buildings in major US cities.
