a wrapper for the bing maps api

maps.js

(function(win, $, Microsoft) {

if( !$ || !Microsoft ) {
  throw "Missing dependencies";
}

var MS = function( $map ){

  var API_KEY = 'An8yWa3XskSOa7CEhg2XSUayDt3feSVnj4ckyklE934aIVKoNOS6kTtP4RCIY-X_',
      BASE_URL = 'http://dev.virtualearth.net/REST/v1/',

      // map placeholder
      map = null,

      // this will hold the item location geo-coords
      item_location, item_addr,

      // re-map MS global to a shorter var name
      m$ = Microsoft.Maps;

  if( arguments.length < 1 ){
    throw "Invalid Arguments";
  }

  // wrapper for creating a map object and
  // instantiating a item location pin
  function loc( elem, params ) {

    // overwrite elem to point to the active item
    elem = ( !elem ) ? $('.map-item.active') : $( elem );

    // create the map object
    if( !map ) map = new m$.Map( $map[0], { credentials: API_KEY, mapTypeId: "r" } );

    // cache the item address
    item_addr = elem.text();

    // initial request URL
    var request_url = BASE_URL +"Locations/"+ item_addr +"?output=json&jsonp=?&key="+ API_KEY,

    infobox;

    // detect what flavor of params we're dealing with
    if( typeof params == "string" ){

      params = { title: params };

    } else if( $.isArray( params ) ){

      params = { title: params[0], text: params[1] };

    }

    // Grab the Map
    $.getJSON( request_url ).success(function(result){
      // let's just assume that the API returns good data
      // and throw an alert if things aren't kosher
      try {
        item_location = result;

        // clear out the map
        map.entities.clear();

        var bbox = result.resourceSets[0].resources[0].bbox,

        // set the map viewing area
        viewBoundaries = m$.LocationRect.fromLocations(
          new m$.Location(bbox[0], bbox[1]),
          new m$.Location(bbox[2], bbox[3])
        ),

        // grab a location object from the coords
        location = new m$.Location(
          result.resourceSets[0].resources[0].point.coordinates[0],
          result.resourceSets[0].resources[0].point.coordinates[1]
        ),

        // place a pin on the address
        pushpin = new m$.Pushpin( location );

        // draw the rollover with item info
        infobox = new m$.Infobox(location, $.extend( params, { visible: true } ) );

        // add a microsoft friendly click handler
        // to toggle rollover state
        m$.Events.addHandler(pushpin, 'click', function(){
          infobox.setOptions({ visible: !infobox._visible });
        });

        // draw everything onto the map
        map.setView({ bounds: viewBoundaries });
        map.entities.push(pushpin);
        map.entities.push(infobox);

      } catch( invalid_data ) {
        alert('Unable to find location');
      }
    });
  }

  // draws directions between 2 points
  function route( $start, $end, $target ){

    var start = $start.selector ? $start.text() : $start,

    end = $end.selector ? $end.text() : $end,

    directions_url = BASE_URL +"Routes?wp.0="+ start +"&wp.1='"+ end +"'&routePathOutput=Points&output=json&key=" + API_KEY;

    $.ajax({
      type: 'GET',
      crossDomain: true,
      dataType: 'jsonp',
      url: directions_url,
      jsonp: 'jsonp'
    })
    .success(function(result){
      try {
        // Make sure that the map is cleared of any old routes;
        map.entities.clear();

        // Set the map view
        var bbox = result.resourceSets[0].resources[0].bbox,
            viewBoundaries = m$.LocationRect.fromLocations(new m$.Location(bbox[0], bbox[1]), new m$.Location(bbox[2], bbox[3])),
            routeline = result.resourceSets[0].resources[0].routePath.line,
            routeLegs = result.resourceSets[0].resources[0].routeLegs[0].itineraryItems,
            routepoints = [], routeshape,
            pins = [],
            routeLength = routeline.coordinates.length;

        // Set the map boundaries
        map.setView({ bounds: viewBoundaries});

        for (var i = 0; i < routeLength; i++) {
           routepoints[i] = new m$.Location(routeline.coordinates[i][0], routeline.coordinates[i][1]);
        }

        pins[0] = new m$.Location(routeline.coordinates[0][0], routeline.coordinates[0][1]);
        pins[1] = new m$.Location(routeline.coordinates[ routeLength - 1 ][0], routeline.coordinates[ routeLength - 1 ][1]);

        // Draw the route on the map
        routeshape = new m$.Polyline(routepoints, { strokeColor:new m$.Color(200,0,0,200) });
        map.entities.push(routeshape);

        map.entities.push( new m$.Pushpin(pins[0], { text: "A" }));
        map.entities.push( new m$.Pushpin(pins[1], { text: "B" }));

        if( !! $target ) return;

        // loops through the route legs and outputs the list of directions
        $.each( routeLegs, function(i, leg){
          $('<div>', { 'class': 'map-directions' })
            .append('<p>'+ leg.instruction.text +'</p>')
            .append('<span class="map-index">'+(i + 1)+'</span>')
            .appendTo( $target );
        });

      } catch( invalid_data ) {
        alert('Unable find directions from that location.');
      }
    });

  }

  return MS = {
    loc: loc,

    route: route,

    BASE_URL: BASE_URL,

    API_KEY: API_KEY
  };

};

win.MS = MS;

})(window, jQuery, Microsoft);

demo here: http://jsbin.com/akafo5/