Maps and navigation undoubtedly are a couple of the coolest things to hit the mobile tech world in the past few years. On Windows Mobile, the two major (free) players are Microsoft's Live Search Mobile and Google Maps.

We've been fans of Live Search for a long while now, with its turn-by-turn directions and better search results. But there's not denying that Google Maps got a few points back in its collumn with a recent update that brought Street View to the small screen. But with little fanfare, Microsoft brought its "Bird's-eye view" setting down to phone level. With Google, you've got a car's-eye view of the streets. With the unheralded BEV, a zoomable over-the-shoulder look into your neighbors backyards. (And Microsoft doesn't make a big deal about it. In the map view, go to Menu>View>Bird's Eye).

So which do you prefer? Google Maps and Street View getting it done for your daily navigation? Or is Live Search and Bird's-Eye View your peeper of choice? Let us know in the comments.

We’d noticed on Tuesday that Google had flipped the switch on most of the country for its Street View service. At the time, we checked for an update to Google Maps for Mobile, hoping that we’d finally get street view alongside our iPhone and BlackBerry brethren – though there has been that java hack. But native app? No luck. Went to bed.

Woke up this morning at lunchtime to see (via Phonescoop) that the app HAS been updated, and Windows Mobile users now have access to Street View with Version 2.3.0.9

Head over to m.google.com/maps to update your app. Follow the instructions in the giant photo above, or you can get to Street View through a search for a location. Go give it a shot now.

Update: Here’s a little video teaser for you. A quick search for Smartphone Experts and the resulting Street View. This is on a Motorola Q9h. It’s not terrible on its 320x240 screen. (Note the cool little scrolling search results.)

Here's a real cool trick from our friends at XDA.

As you may have noticed, in the WM version of Google Maps we do not yet have the patented Google "Street View" feature whereby you can see real 360° pan shots of the street you are mapping. The soon-to-drop Android G1 and BlackBerry devices have it, but no love for Google's WM stepchild.

But, until that update you can do this:

• download Esmertec Jbed (java manager) here (if needed)
• download "KDKobes Google Maps Street View" .jar file here; place in \My Documents

Install the Esmertec Java client (you'll need to link it to your Start Menu from from the root \Esmertec Java folder). Then Menu --> Install --> Local files and it should find KDKobe's .jar file. Install and you're done!

Now, just launch Google Maps (BB edition, natch) from the Esmertec Java client and away you go. Find a street address, hit options on the bubble and click "Street View". You can even make it full screen, albeit a bit grainy.

Down sides? No "My Location" or GPS. But hey, it's a start! My own thoughts? Overall it works surprisingly well. Give it a go.

via Tilt Mobility & props to KDKobes for discovering this!

ps Eat our shorts CrackBerry! ;-) WM is unstoppable.