Bing Maps - Microsoft MapPoint grows up

Bing Maps vs. Google Maps

Google maps has brought map technology to a new level.  Google brought us draggable world maps, satellite imagery, 3d Maps and street view.  Amazing!  Google ramped up so quickly and brought so many new features in such an intuitive fashion that it made online Maps ubiquitous.  Well done Google.

Bing maps started as Microsoft MapPoint, Streets and Trips to become Virtual Earth, and now Bing Maps.  Microsoft just added Terrabytes of new content including 3d Maps, updated satellite images and global coverage.  The coverage from Bing includes some nice detail including clearflow traffic routing (fastest drive with traffic being accounted for),  rooftop level locations (geocoding), decent 3D objects like the London Eye and the Golden Gate Bridge.  Definitely checkout Bing 3D mode.

Bing brings to the table a dedication to update it's content more frequently than Google.  Gotta admit Google content can be fairly innaccurate.  Old map content upto a year old, satellite images from 2005 (an update would be nice) and most of the time you enter a home address it is approximated (look up you own house and see if it is in the right place).

Microsoft has come forward as a player in the local search space with Bing.  It is not only a new brand, but some intuitive features that make search different.  Useful widgets built into the search results to identify cheapest prices on Travel and shopping and many other features.

I have been a google maps fan for years, but Bing has come ready to play so I Google does not update their map content soon I may have to switch.

This game is not over.  Google better watch your back; Microsoft has a lot of Gaming Experience.

Harris Warren