MSN Virtual Earth Beta Goes Live

Following in the footsteps of Google, Microsoft's MSN division on Monday launched a beta of its Virtual Earth mapping tool. The service will allow users to view satellite imagery, as well as traditional map locations, and perform local search functions based on the area in focus.

For example, Virtal Earth will have the capability to visually point out locations for ATMs, restaurants, and gas stations. Google's Maps service has been able to do the same function since it was bolstered with satellite imagery in April of this year.

"MSN Virtual Earth provides a deeply immersive search experience that lets people see what it’s like to be in a location and easily explore what they can do there," Stephen Lawle, general manager of the Mappoint business unit said.

In an interview with BetaNews in May, Microsoft revealed that this is just the beginning of what MSN plans to do with Virtual Earth. Eventually, Microsoft will integrate traffic data and weather data to the service in the coming months.

Also included in the beta release is a client-side application called Location Finder. The application turns a regular Wi-Fi enabled laptop into a GPS device of sorts without any additional hardware. By clicking the Locate Me button within Virtual Earth, the program is activated and then attempts to find the access point the user has sent the request from.

Local landmarks are labeled and maps will be updated every two years on average.

Notably missing from the beta, however, is the 45-degree angle birds-eye view maps that Microsoft was producing with partner Pictometry. BetaNews was shown detail in May that plunges down to local street blocks and nearly onto rooftops.

Microsoft gave no time table for the release of this feature, only saying it would be made available in the next beta release "later this year."