Online Map Technologies

The current web site project I’m on has a requirement around using live maps for showing location information. On my last day at TechEd I sat in on a session on Virtual Earth so I could get a better idea of the technology and compare it with what I knew about Google Maps. It was a very nicely done demo, and also included integration with other Live technologies, like messaging. It seemed like a very straightforward JavaScript library with a pile of useful features. Pulling together a quick POC for either platform for a proper comparison should be a snap.