Hot on the heels of Live Search Maps Finland

Jan 20, 2009 09:31 GMT  ·  By

Last week, Microsoft launched a new localized version of Live Search Maps. Hot on the heels of Live Search Maps Finland, the Redmond company has now introduced Live Search Maps Netherlands. The website is already live, and is offering a completely new perspective over the Netherlands. According to Microsoft, the website has at its heart almost exclusively the Virtual Earth platform, and in this sense is capable of offering visitors the same experience as its English-speaking brother.

“Explore The Netherlands like never before with a localized experience including business search powered by our partner De Telefoongids, 43 cities in Birds-Eye view, 3D, Collections and directions (both driving and walking),” Chris Pendleton, Virtual Earth tech evangelist, said.

Pendleton enumerated the entire span of features and options available to users of Live Search Maps Netherlands, making sure to provide the linguistics equivalents to the English labels in the local tongue. Live Search Maps Netherlands brings to the table Straat (Road Maps); Lucht (Aerial Maps); Vogelvlucht-weergave (Bird’s Eye View); 3D capabilities, Bedrijven (Search Yellow Pages); Verzamelingen (Explore Collections); Delen (Share); Route-advies (Directions) and Afdrukken (Print).

Live Search Maps Netherlands features a consistent amount of content, including low resolution satellite imagery designed to offer users an ample view of the country to high resolution aerial photography, which will detail locations in specific sites. At the same time, Microsoft informed that the road coverage would be able to guide travelers throughout the country.

“Live Maps Netherlands now has the 3D view activated. This allows viewing the world in all dimensions, gives access to near-real-time weather and a growing number of 3D cities around the globe. Bird’s Eye overlay allows overlying the 3D view with our real bird’s eye photography,” Pendleton revealed.

On top of this, Live Search Maps Netherlands users will be able to search through the local yellow page listing, with the help of the software giant's partner De Telefoongids. However, exploration will not stop here, as visitors can view collections of user-generated content, which can be shared with friends.