Announcing the new Bing Maps site with a redesigned left-rail and broader access to Map Apps & StreetSide
Today, we're happy to announce the following additions and changes to Bing Maps: — AJAX V7 Control — The launch of the next version the Bing Maps AJAX control provides consumers …
Context & Ripple Effects
Bing's 2010 has been a steady cadence of map investment: January brought the Silverlight-powered Bing Maps relaunch, May added more bird's eye imagery, and this November update now ships the next-generation AJAX V7 control alongside a redesigned left rail.
The notable shift is access rather than technology — Map Apps and the StreetSide street-level view move out of niche status toward default consumer reach, which positions Bing Maps as a direct counterweight to Google Maps' street-view dominance at the browser level.
First-order effects
- Developers building on Bing Maps get the AJAX V7 control immediately, while consumers gain broader access to Map Apps and StreetSide without needing plugins or special entry points.
Second-order effects
- Google Maps faces pressure to keep its street-level imagery and app ecosystem feeling more open than Bing's, since the differentiator shifts from having the features to how easily they are reached.
Third-order effects
- If Bing continues pairing richer imagery with lighter-weight delivery — moving from Silverlight dependence toward plain AJAX — web mapping trends toward browser-native experiences where distribution ease outweighs raw visual fidelity.
The trend: Web mapping is consolidating into a two-player consumer platform race, where Microsoft competes with Google by widening access to imagery and apps rather than adding proprietary client tech.