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Microsoft updates Live Search maps, announces Live Search 411
The other day Goog 411 graduated from Google Labs. So while Gmail is still in beta, the much younger service that lets you get phone numbers and directions on your phone is 100% officially launched. So what does Microsoft do? They announce Live Search 411.
Right now if you dial 1-800-CALL-411 you get a "coming soon" message. But if history teaches us anything, when Live Search 411 launches it will work almost exactly the same way as Goog 411.
Microsoft is also announcing/confirming a small boatload (perhaps a kayak or a canoe) of new features for the desktop versions of Live Search:
- Improved driving directions with dynamic rerouting based on traffic, and landmark clues to let you know if you've gone too far
- Improved 3D imagery coverage. Now Live Search Maps has bird's-eye 3D imagery for 80 percent of the US.
- User generated content is incorporated into Live Search local results
- Virtual Earth updates including multipoint trip routing, enhanced geocoding, and map control support for Safari 2.0
- An updated version of Live Search for Windows Mobile 5.0/6 will be available today with support for voice input and GPS
- Live Search for Blackberry beta
Comments
5
Subscribe to commentsThe DonkeyOct 15th 2007 11:34PM
I think Microsoft is quite amazing. How many companies can make a living off of imitations and yet still charge premium prices? We will certainly not go back to Mapquest!
michaelJan 6th 2008 5:55PM
What imitation?
Live Maps and Google Maps look/do completely different. The new update kind of gives Live a more cleaner feel, and it's widely known that Live Maps use a better high-res camera via helicopter and satellite. Take a look : http://www.liveside.net/blogs/main/archive/2007/12/31/a-look-at-the-live-maps-high-res-cameras.aspx
And what 'premium price' are you claiming about Live Maps? All Windows Live services are free. So what do you mean?
There are aspects that I love about Google Maps, and there are aspects that I love about Live Maps. But don't be an idiot, and make false claims about something you never used.
MysteriusOct 16th 2007 8:04AM
I'm in awe of how much money Microsoft must be throwing behind its Live brand. And people fear Google...
JPOct 16th 2007 8:07AM
Was 1800-LIVE-411 taken or something?
Also I have to say that I find the Live 3D thing pretty useless. It's a toy basically. Google Street view is actually useful.
michaelOct 16th 2007 8:58PM
I love the new Live Maps! A much more better reason for me to switch from Google Maps!
The Virtual Earth team put up a new post on their blog: http://virtualearth.spaces.live.com/Blog/cns!2BBC66E99FDCDB98!9276.entry
All the new features, and how it's getting to be much more better than Google Maps.