Microsoft virtual earth was popularly known as Bing maps platform. This is an improvement over Bing Maps map imagery. This could be Microsoft’s answer to Google’s efforts to put forth a mapping platform in the form of Google Earth.  Microsoft virtual earth combines the benefits of maps and aerial views. Microsoft virtual earth allows data that is location-relevant to be highlighted. Microsoft virtual earth is a database of people’s addresses and other relevant data. Some of the best applications could be created using Microsoft virtual earth, it provides the best mapping facility. The user can zoom in or zoom out of images or maps. It could be combined with Microsoft Silverlight to produce some beautiful effects.

Technicalities, pros and cons

Microsoft virtual earth runs on all major platforms like Windows XP, Windows 2003 and  Windows Vista. All that a user requires is a broadband internet connection or a DSL internet connection. Microsoft virtual earth provides an excellent display of details like streets and roads on the earth. All kinds of imagery obtained by virtue of Microsoft virtual earth is supposed to be used only for non-commercial purposes. Microsoft Virtual Earth team must be taken into confidence for any other use. Its ease in operation and use places it above such platforms like Google Earth. On the negative side, Microsoft virtual earth involves a floating tool bar which can be quite irritating. The screen could also be cluttered heavily with applications reducing the efficiency.

Its use in our lives

Microsoft virtual earth allows the user to build maps that display roads and traffic information with precision. An aerial view or a bird’s eye view of a particular region could be shown in 3D using Microsoft virtual earth. This way, these maps could be used for giving driving instructions to drivers using maps and imagery in a web specific environment. It is supported by Virtual Earth Map Control and Virtual Earth Web Services. MSN virtual earth was proposed to be launched in the summer of 2005 by Microsoft to compete with Google earth. Microsoft virtual earth download could be initiated from any of the numerous websites that host the software.