Virtual Earth Map Control 6.2 and Virtual Earth Web Service

[Matellis]

Microsoft is kicking Virtual Earth up a notch. The Redmond giant's mapping, location and search service has evolved to the next stage, bringing new components including the Virtual Earth Web Service and the Virtual Earth Map Control 6.2. Chris Pendleton, Virtual Earth Tech Evangelist, Microsoft Live Search, indicated that the refresh of Virtual Earth is designed to deliver a new level of opportunities as far as international content is concerned, but not only.

New Mobile Support

Users can now build mobile applications with Virtual Earth, which offers more features and enhancements to support mobile platforms such as, Windows Mobile, RIM Blackberry and Apple iPhone. Rich imagery creates immersive mobile end-user experiences that bring location-based information to life.

Rich Imagery for Mobile.

Mobile applications feature geocoding and new maps rendered specifically for mobile devices.

More flexibility to develop mobile features

The new Virtual Earth Web Services will support features (mapping, geocoding, and routing) that can be implemented for use on mobile devices.

Enhanced International Opportunities

This latest release of Virtual Earth provides more support and more detail for more countries around the world. Enjoy the functionality and features of Virtual Earth in a broader range of countries.

Maps are now available in English, German, French, Italian, and Spanish for users in Western Europe. These localized maps are supported for both desktop and mobile applications. Users can now find international addresses with reverse geocoding, which is now available anywhere Virtual Earth has routing. With expanded parsing capabilities, users will experience better match rates for addresses in Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and Puerto Rico.

Richer Data: See More in the Platform

The new map control includes the ability to zoom in on a map to better visualize a cluster of points. The pushpins can be clustered and surfaced at larger zoom levels, or hidden from view at smaller zoom levels, to give a better user experience. Virtual Earth now offers 85 million unique addresses—more than 65% of all rooftops in the U.S. Using near-matching capabilities, customers can find locations using alternate and similar spellings, resulting in a more relevant search experience.

Customers in the U.S. and Canada can now use maps that feature familiar landmarks, such as gas stations and fast-food restaurants, called out by name. Users can now find out the relative age of a given image, which will help them assess if the imagery is still relevant to their needs. Find locations that come to life, with richer bird’s eye and 3D imagery of more locations in cities across North America. Developers now have more granular control to hide the Virtual Earth base map tiles for those applications in which they choose to use their own imagery or overlays. Bring your 3D maps to life by featuring near real-time local weather and cloud formations.

Source : msdn