Microsoft is the adept of massive double digit Terabytes update for its mapping, location and search platform. And the latest refresh introduced to Virtual Earth makes no exception to this rule. For September 2008, the Redmond giant delivered a massive 46 Terabytes update to Virtual Earth. In this regard, August 2008 qualifies as a slow month for Microsoft with the Virtual Earth updating process having come to a stand-still as the company did not introduce any new content. The September 46TB update brings both imagery and vector content.

“Orthos: Yakima, WA; Springfield, MO; Spokane, WA; Portland, ME; Grand Rapids, MI; Billings, MT; Minneapolis, MN (UltraCam Refresh); Seattle, WA (UltraCam Refresh); Las Vegas, NV; (UltraCam Refresh); Phoenix, AZ (UltraCam Refresh); and Tampa, Fl (UltraCam Refresh). [In addition, Microsoft released] vector overlays for Navteq and MDS data sources for orthos and Bird's Eye, all mobile tiles, new British Isles Map style and Tampa, FL (in 3D),” revealed Chris Pendleton, Virtual Earth Tech Evangelist, Microsoft Live Search.

While adding new content to Virtual Earth, Microsoft is also expanding the service on other markets. In this regard, Pendleton announced the launch of Live Search Maps India version 1. For Live Search Maps India, Microsoft is delivering a range of features including Street Maps, Location Search, Business Listing (Yellow Pages) Search, and Routing/Driving Directions.

“Street Maps for 9 important Indian cities Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Pune, Ahmedabad, and Jaipur and National Road Network of India with roughly 20,000 cities/towns/major localities (as points on the map). Political Map of India with important geographical features that includes national roads connecting around 20,000 Indian cities are on the offer. Highlights are the detailed maps for 9 important Indian cities as mentioned earlier. Within these 9 cities, important places like monuments, restaurants, hotels are also presented as icons in the maps,” Pendleton explained.