ArcGIS API for Microsoft Silverlight

The beta release of the ArcGIS API for Microsoft Silverlight will coincide with the 2009 ESRI Developer Summit in Palm Springs, California, to be held from 23 to 26 March. This new API allows application developers to integrate ArcGIS Server and Microsoft Virtual Earth services and capabilities in a Silverlight application.  

Developers can use the Silverlight API to combine GIS-based Web services from ArcGIS Server with other Web content and display it in fast and expressive mapping applications that can be deployed over the Web. The API takes full advantage of the powerful mapping, geocoding, and geoprocessing capabilities of ArcGIS Server. End users can display their local data in an interactive map, search for and display GIS data features and attributes, locate addresses, identify features, and perform complex spatial analysis by simply clicking a button or feature on the map.

Developers can also use the API to access ready-to-use services from ArcGIS Online and Microsoft's Virtual Earth, mash up information from multiple Web resources, and interactively annotate the map.

While it is in public beta release, developers will be able to download the ArcGIS API for Microsoft Silverlight from the ArcGIS Server Resource Center. The resource center will include documentation, interactive samples, a code gallery, and much more.