Project Silk Road: Live Search APIs, Tools, Services, and More
Project Silk Road is a broad range of tools and services Microsoft offers online publishers and developers to help them generate traffic, increase engagement on their sites, drive insight, and boost productivity. In much the same way that the original Silk Road offered opportunities for overland cultural and technological exchange and innovation, we hope that the offerings in Project Silk Road can help spark a modern-day network effect in online commerce and information exchange.

Offerings that are part of Project Silk Road include: the Live Search and Virtual Earth APIs, adCenter Publisher, Webmaster Center, the Custom Web Error Toolkit, and the Excel Add-in for adCenter. Instant Answers and Video Syndication services are also available, but are invitation-only at this time.

Live Search API 2.0
A key part of Project Silk Road is a re-architected Live Search API that offers open, flexible options for building or enhancing your site or applications. Developing an application with the new API is straightforward: Choose a SourceType (or SourceTypes – you’re not limited to one), choose an output protocol (JSON, SOAP, or XML) and then customize according to your needs. All you need to get going is an AppID.

Key improvements to the Live Search API include:

  • Multiple protocols: JSON, XML, SOAP
  • Multiple SourceTypes: Web, Images, InstantAnswer, Phonebook, RelatedSearch, Spell, and more…
  • Unlimited use for customer-facing sites and applications
  • Flexible presentation options: No restrictions on ordering and blending results
Monetize your Live Search API 2.0 application with search ads
The Live Search API also offers the possibility to build revenue from your site. Search ads are currently available as a pilot program, and only for U.S.-based publishers. To find out more about applying for ads, see monetizing your search application.
Get started today
To get started, create an AppID. Note that when you apply for an AppID, you agree to our full API terms of use.
Get the Virtual Earth SDK
Use the Virtual Earth APIs to create your own mapping and location applications. To get the SDK, see Virtual Earth developer.
API 1.1
The Live Search API version 1.1b has been closed and no additional AppIDs will be released. You can still track your existing 1.1 AppIDs, at the API 1.1 developer center.