The following software development kits and application programming interfaces are available to Windows Live developers:
Windows Live Contacts API - Beta 1.0 — The Windows Live Contacts API is an HTTP-based service that enables developers to programmatically submit queries to and retrieve results from the Windows Live Contacts Address Book database.
Windows Live Spaces Photo API - Alpha 1.0 — The Windows Live Spaces Photos API enables web sites to programmatically exchange data with the Windows Live Spaces photo database, using the WebDAV protocol.
Windows Live Messenger IM Control - The Windows Live Messenger IM Control enables web sites to show the presence of Windows Live Messenger users, and let site visitors engage in instant messaging conversations with the Messenger users.
Windows Live Presence API - The Windows Live Presence API is an HTTP-based API that returns a Windows Live Messenger user's presence using JavaScript Object Notation (JSON) or an image.
Virtual Earth Map Control SDK — Virtual Earth provides the power behind Live Search Maps, an online mapping service that enables users to search, discover, explore, plan, and share information about specific locations. By using traditional road maps, labeled aerial photo views, low-angle high-resolution aerial photos, and proximity searching capabilities, Virtual Earth provides unique opportunities for developers to incorporate both location and local search features into their Web applications. The Virtual Earth map control software development kit (SDK) consists of a complete set of reference topics that cover the Virtual Earth map control application programming interface (API). Virtual Earth Map Control SDK, Version 3.2, Virtual Earth Map Control SDK, Version 4.0, and Virtual Earth Map Control SDK, Version 5.0 are provided to support those developers who are using an earlier version of the map control and have not yet migrated to version 6.0.
Microsoft MapPoint Web Service — Microsoft MapPoint Web Service is a hosted, programmable Web service that allows you to integrate high-quality maps, driving directions, distance calculations, proximity searches, and other location intelligence into your applications, business processes, and Web sites.
Live Search API, Version 1.1 — The Live Search Web Service is an Extensible Markup Language (XML) Web service with a SOAP API. The Search Web Service enables you to submit queries to and return results from the Live Search Engine. The Search section also features articles that cover a variety of technical topics and coding techniques for the Live Search developer.
Windows Live ID SDK — The Windows Live ID service (formerly known as the Passport Network) is the identity and authentication system provided by Windows Live. The Windows Live ID Client 1.0 SDK enables you to start developing identity-aware client applications that make use of this powerful technology and its enormous user base. The Windows Live ID Web Authentication 1.0 SDK provides a platform-independent interface to the Windows Live ID service, so you can verify the identity of visitors to your Web site. Finally, for a broader view of Windows Live ID, the Introduction to Windows Live ID article provides information about the history, current state, and future direction of the service.
Windows Live Data SDK - Alpha 1.0 — Windows Live Data provides a mechanism by which developers can ask Windows Live users for permission to access the user's Windows Live services and data on the user's behalf. Currently Windows Live Data exposes Windows Live Contacts which is the central address book for all Windows Live services. Access to additional Windows Live services will be added for the upcoming Beta and other future releases.
Microsoft Silverlight Streaming SDK — Microsoft Silverlight Streaming service is a free online hosting service for Silverlight-based applications and media. The Microsoft Silverlight Streaming SDK provides documentation that enables you to create and optimize Silverlight-based applications for Silverlight Streaming, and package video files for upload to the service.
Microsoft adCenter API — The Microsoft adCenter application programming interface (API) enables you to create applications that create and manage adCenter campaigns, orders, keywords, and ads; obtain the status on orders, keywords and ads; pause and resume orders; generate keyword estimates; generate reports about campaign performance; and perform order targeting.
Windows Live Alerts SDK — The Windows Live Alerts SDK, version 2.5b, enables developers familiar with Simple Object Access Protocol (SOAP) to programmatically integrate with the Alerts notification service and perform administrative tasks that are not available using the Windows Live Alerts web site.
Windows Live Custom Domains SDK — The Windows Live Admin Center software development kit (SDK), version 3.0, enables developers to programmatically manage their Windows Live Admin Center user base by means of a Web service. This SDK is intended for customers and partners who want to programmatically accomplish many of the administration tasks that are available on the Windows Live Admin Center Web site in addition to tasks that are not available on the Web site, such as importing and exporting user lists.
Windows Live Expo API — The Expo API defines a set of Web services enabling customers to programmatically access the Expo classifieds listings database, a collection of location-tagged classifieds listings in categories like merchandise, real estate, autos, jobs and commercial services.
Windows Live Messenger Activity SDK — The Windows Live Messenger Activity software development kit (SDK) contains technical information about how to develop and test single-user and multi-user applications by using the Activity object model. The SDK also provides detailed information about development and testing requirements that your Activity must meet and how to increase the usage of your Messenger Activity application.
Introduction to Windows Live Spaces APIs and Feeds — The Windows Live Spaces APIs and Feeds documentation provides reference material for developers interested in integrating with Windows Live Spaces. The information contained in this section is intended to provide guidance for consuming APIs and feeds within the Spaces development platform. Additional information about developing on the Windows Live Spaces platform can be found at http://dev.live.com/spaces/.
Windows Live Spaces MetaWeblog API — The MetaWeblog API programming interface enables external programs to get and set the text and attributes of Weblog posts. The API uses the XML-RPC protocol for communication between client applications and the Weblog server.
Windows Live Toolbar Custom Button SDK — The Windows Live Toolbar Custom Button Software Development Kit (SDK) shows how you can extend Toolbar with custom buttons. This SDK provides a quick overview of how users can install publicly available buttons and create their own simple buttons. Most of this SDK, however, shows how you can use XML to create more sophisticated custom buttons, and how you can distribute those buttons to users.
Windows Live Writer SDK — Two sets of APIs are provided in this beta version of the SDK: The Application API, for launching Writer to create new posts or "Blog This" items for links, snippets, images, and feed items; and the Content Source Plugin API, for extending the capabilities of Writer to insert, edit, and publish new types of content. The SDK documentation contained in this beta version of the SDK is preliminary. The documentation will be extended and improved in a subsequent release of the SDK.