As predicted in this space last month, Yahoo released a beta version of its new AJAXy mapping product today.

SEW reports that not only has Yahoo matched Google's draggable user interface, Yahoo has added a few features that leapfrog Google. For example, while Google allows searches of local businesses defined by the current map view, Yahoo will refresh the search results as the map is scrolled. Also, Yahoo allows multiple-point routing and improved map printing capabilities. Finally, Yahoo has provided a rich set of APIs to allow third-party developers and web sites to weave Yahoo maps into their applications.

The Yahoo beta does not currently offer satellite images, though.

As buygoogle reported in the original post, the Google user should relish the intense competition because it results in greatly improved features. But the Google investor should discount innovations that are easily copied, because they do not result in sustainable competitive advantage. Google needs to maintain its edge in the mapping and local search market that it shook up with its entry last year. But the real sustainable advantages will come from infrastructure plays like national broadband, Google Web Accelerator, and machine language translation.