...Maps, AskCity and map results integrated into their SERPs"in favor of Live Virtual Earth (Microsofts maps product).

In some regions, the change is even more drastic. As Barry Schwartz reports, Ask UKs map site is offline (and their title element is misspelled: Unavailabe?):

Dear Ask Maps user,

We are sorry, but our maps service is no longer available. Please re-enter your query in the search box above to use our main web search service.

We apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused you. If you have any comments or questions about our service please contact us.

The Ask Team

Microsoft has long been touting their maps product (see Satya Nadellas conversation at last years SMX Advanced), but its pretty sad to see Asks go"not because the narrowing of the field will irreparably harm the search sphere. It may not make much of a difference in the long run.

But Asks map products did have a few unique features that I, for one, am really sorry to see go (like walking directions"do you know how important those are for pedestrians in a city with thousands of one-way streets?! Yeah, theyre gone now.).

What do you think"will you miss Asks maps? Is this a step in the right direction for Ask?

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