Microsoft on Thursday in the United States will unveil a beta version of Windows Live Local, which is based on its Virtual Earth aerial image application and integrates local search, mapping, driving directions and yellow pages with a bird's-eye view of major U.S. cities.

The service will offer a 45-degree bird's-eye view of about one-quarter of the country, including cities like New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Boston, Seattle and Las Vegas.

The bird's-eye images, captured by Pictometry International using low-flying planes, are integrated with road and satellite maps to simulate 360-degree panoramas that can be viewed from several directions. Users can choose between directional views or zoom closer using on-screen navigation tools and preview tiles.

The new service also enables users to create customised maps by adding user-created pushpins, as well as annotate maps and share local search information with others. Users don't need to know the address or name of a place to locate its whereabouts, but can simply point and click to get directions.

Driving directions can be enhanced to include information on construction areas and other helpful data. The service also includes enhanced printing options and a location finder for people using Wi-Fi with laptops and tablet PCs.

"I think it's very impressive. The photography offers a higher degree of resolution and clarity than what is otherwise available from aerial or satellite photography," said Greg Sterling, managing editor at The Kelsey Group.

"There are a lot of personalisation aspects to it," including the ability to add notes and create custom maps, he said.

Sterling also praised Windows Live Local's integration with MSN Messenger, which allows multiple people to simultaneously view and interact with the same map.

AOL, Google and Yahoo also have integrated mapping and local search services, but Windows Live Local will be the first of the major mapping services to offer something other than just a view from directly above, as most satellite imagery has offered.

Meanwhile, in addition to Google Local integrated map and search, the search company has Google Earth, which allows users to get a simulated view of flying over cities. And Amazon's A9 mapping tool displays street-level views in its service.