Windows Live SDK for Developers

My first breakout session yesterday was with the Windows Live team, where they discussed their developer offerings and pipeline.  There is huge potential here for developers.

 What does Windows Live have to offer Developers? 

Have you ever wanted to...

... add Virtual Earth to a website? 
... use the Live platform to build Messenger activities?
... build Search on your site?
... write your own Gadgets?
... perform authentication and authorization with Live IDs?
...  or -- do something else with the other components of Windows Live? 

The Windows Live SDK is transparently a work in progress, but already it represents an impressive set of offerings that developers can start taking advantage of today.  Its terms of use, which vary by API component, should not be your stopper; if they are, contact me and I will put you in touch with the Live team.

The place to start for developers is https://dev.live.com. 

One aspect of the SDK I just learned about is the Windows Live Contacts Control, which, if you're developing a site, allow users of your Web site to see the online presence of their contacts and even initiate Messenger sessions.  Add the control to your page using Javascript.  (I tested the developer demo in Firefox and IE7 here.).  This team has clearly thought a lot about business case scenarios (as well as privacy issues) and all I can say is to watch this space in the coming months.  And here's a clever "Start a Party" mash-up to show the potential.

Other places to start for specific parts of the Windows Live API are:

  Windows Live Search - https://search.msn.com/developer

  Virtual Earth - https://Dev.live.com/virtualearth/sdk

I have two concerns in the back of my head about Windows Live for developers. 

First, the branding of our Live platform stuff is still wildly confusing - although clearly this is a transitional time. 

Second, I don't have a clear sense of the roadmap for when different elements will be localized to different geographies (i.e. Ireland).  I'm going to make it a priority to find out, because I see massive potential here for solutions all over the world.