Combine MapPoint with Virtual Earth

Hi,
We're taking our first steps with this technology and would like some tips, 
if possible.
We need to set up a "Dealer Locator" for an international corporation
(with 
dealers around the globe).
We've seen that using the StoreLocator example in the MapPoing SDK we can 
provide a basic service to site visitors. But the results are static image 
maps, while we would like to offer a Virutal Earth view as a result of the 
search for the nearest dealer. Virtual Earth view, rather than a static map, 
offers the site visitor the options of choosing between a Bird's Eye View or 
Street Map, etc.
This application should also offer a view of the nearest dealers and driving 
directions.
Any tips?

Hi,

I have Virtual Earth example code in my book (see below) to use the current 
Version 6 VE control in a VB .NET SmartClient application.  It would provide 
the basic functionallity that you seek, though you'd have to add the 
database interface -- and other functional details.  This code wraps the 
JavaScript API that the Virtual Earth SDK exposes, and implements interfaces 
to it in VB .NET wrapper code.

You don't say what environment you are using, so there are a variety of way 
that you might want to do it.  This might an application hosted in the 
browser (say, ASP.NET), too.

Dick

-- 
Richard Grier, MVP
Hard & Software
Author of Visual Basic Programmer's Guide to Serial Communications, Fourth 
Edition,
ISBN 1-890422-28-2 (391 pages, includes CD-ROM). July 2004, Revised March 
2006.
See www.hardandsoftware.net for details and contact information.