Live Search and Live Search Maps continue to improve their offerings. The browser-based local search and mapping site for mobile has been updated with a bunch of new features. point the browser on your mobile to http://m.live.com/ to try it out.

After downloading a small installer, maps on your mobile browser are made interactive, with easy zooming and panning.  I just tried it out on my T-Mobile Shadow, very nice.  According to the Live Maps/ Virtual Earth blog, other improvements include:

• 1-click directions for all businesses and street addresses in U.S.
• Additional details for U.S. businesses, including neighborhood, business category, cuisine (restaurants) and hours of operation
• Photos and reviews for U.S. businesses
• Improved movie show times Instant Answers (we now show critics rating)
• Added interactivity to all maps (clicking on maps now zooms in/out to predefined levels, or advanced to the next waypoint for routing maps)
• Traffic & map Instant Answers
• Mobile search for the China market. Scopes offered are local (no maps, but coming soon), web, images, news and Spaces.

Windows Live, Windows Mobile, Mobile Live Search, Live Maps, Virtual Earth, Maps