I saw the those Microsoft/Google exchange as two people talking past each other. I find it hard to believe Google doesn't have different KPI for Google Maps vs. say, Google Books. I mean one involves scanning books, the other involves mapping data. It's all fine and good to say everything has to be 'fast', but I doubt that's the level the development teams approach the problems internally.<p>Also, if MS does develop it's own edge technology, of course they would re-use it in the products were edge technology makes sense. I may not be appropriate to use it across the board, ie: maybe a CDN would help with virtual earth, but is it really necessary for travel data, which changes more often? I seriously doubt MS would re-invent the wheel over and over for all their online products. I know people who work there and this isn't how they work.