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Bing Maps to Change SEO, Challenge Google

Bing Maps, Microsoft’s answer to Google Maps, is set to challenge the latter as the leading online mapping service in the market with its latest update. Several new features were unveiled this week, many designed to rival those of Google.

The newest version, dubbed Bing Maps Silverlight Beta, includes a “Street Side” feature, equivalent to the Street View feature recently introduced by Google Maps. Early testers say the photo quality and amount of detail equals or even exceeds those of Google.

Street Side is currently available only in 56 major U.S. cities, but plans are currently under way to expand the service. Earlier features, such as traffic viewing and storable points of interest, currently cover most of North America, Europe, Asia and Australia.

The 3D content of Bing Maps is powered by Silverlight, Microsoft’s proprietary web application framework, which may keep out third-party developers and limit availability for unsupported browsers and platforms.

The mapping service is also expected to change the playing field for search engine optimization (SEO), as it gives Microsoft the leverage it needs to market its technological edge to a wider Web audience.

SEO-oriented features added include multiple searches, which allow users to search terms simultaneously and add content to the map in several layers. Microsoft has also integrated Bing Local Search into the service, allowing expandable search and richer content.

Other interesting features include one-click navigational directions, auto-location detection, weather and image integration, and an application gallery where users can run other Bing applications simultaneously with the mapping service.