I have used the Smartphone version of MSN Virtual Earth a few times but it is painfully apparent that this is the software equivalent of using a shoehorn to squeeze a bull into a bullhorn. Google has just released a free Java client for mobile phones to access google local: Google Local for Mobile. Although it is java and has a slightly different interface that MS Smartphone owners are used to (such as after clicking a button to open a menu, clicking that same button again in Google Local Mobile will not close the menu as we expect, it will instead select the highlighted menu item... doh), the software is VERY nice and has quite a few features that make it a better overall experience than the (free, open, and user-contributed) Virtual Earth Mobile.
The images are optimized for mobile devices, which is great. Unfortunately, when I try to switch from map to satellite view, I am denied by a message that says "Your phone can't display satellite maps" which is false, unless "your phone can't" really means "we won't let your phone attempt to". So no photos, but the maps are still great. Not only are they fast and optimized, they zoom when you zoom the map (while you're waiting for the higher resolution maps to load which is a very short wait, thanks to the image optimization) instead of simply disappearing like in Virtual Earth Mobile. Another nice feature is the smooth scrolling when moving the maps.
Have I mentioned that it is fast?
I did have some troubles installing the software, as did a few others (as seen on Google Local for Mobile newsgroup) but eventually the answer to my problem was posted: reboot the phone and install again. Strangely enough, it worked. I guessI forgot what operating system I was dealing with. I know better than that. It is Windows... when in doubt, reboot.