Yahoo Local has added satellite and aerial imagery to Yahoo Maps to better compete with Google Local (and Google Earth) as well as MSN's Virtual Earth (Windows Live Local), DM News reports. Yahoo's beta program allows users to view U.S. locations, including cities, towns and major land features, in medium resolution. Internationally, uses can see major roads and cities - and, unlike those competitors - rivers and railroads.

Yahoo displays sponsored listings when consumers search in Maps, and Google recently integrated local business ads in Google Maps.

"The satellite imagery brings Yahoo on par with what Google and Microsoft are doing," Greg Sterling of local advertising consultancy Sterling Market Intelligence is quoted as saying. "Ultimately, what people are going to want to see is street-level views," Sterling said.