Yesterday, Microsoft released sample mashup code that hints more at Office Live"s directions and opportunities for developers. What Microsoft calls "Office Live Contact Map," is sample code for creating "a map displaying the location of all of your contacts included in the Contacts list in the Business Contact Manager application when you have either an Office Live Essentials or Premium subscription." Microsoft"s map mashup, which uses Virtual Earth APIs and SharePoint Services 3.0, requires one of the two paid Office Live services--Essentials or Premium. Office Live is at its core hosted SharePoint.
The code "is a sample of one way that Web services can be used to create Web Parts that enhance Office Live business applications," according to Microsoft. Some implications: Office Live Contact Map hints at where Microsoft is going with all its "Live" services. While Microsoft initially intended the services to extend core products like Office and Windows, the company is now focusing more on developer opportunities. Over the coming months, Microsoft will increase the volume about Live development opportunities, culminating, I believe, at the MIX `07 conference in April.