Yahoo has unveiled a beta of an updated version of its mapping service, offering easier navigation and supporting mouse dragging and zooming.

The service is also more closely integrated with Yahoo Local, mimicking an earlier move by Google.

Yahoo has added a feature for motorists that lets them create a route with multiple stops. The current version only gives point-to-point directions.

The company will release APIs that allow developers to create software that integrates with the service.

Yahoo has also added a feature that allows less technically skilled developers to use an Excel plug-in to create a webpage integrating information from a spreadsheet.

This could allow a real estate agent, for example, to show the location of homes for sale.

The beta is available here.