I do believe that there is many people like me that would like to integrate Google maps on a Silverlight application.

However there are many reasons for not being able to.
The first of all is that it would break Google licensing, since they only allow to access Google Maps API (at this date v3) by JavaScript. Besides that and for what I have read in later times is that Silverlight GIS (Geographical Information Systems) controls require access to “Tiles Layer”. It happens that Google’s people only consider granting this for special requests what isn’t the case of small people that just want to toy a little.

Which takes me a situation where I really would like to have Google Maps on a Silverlight app… How could I do it?

Well I started for looking at Silverlight object “WebBrowser“. There is some issues on this object but not significant.
To Know is that this object needs special permissions. Which takes me to a situation where I need to install my Silverlight App as an “Out of Browser Silverlight App”. (there is still another way but I consider it a breach on security. See link. )

So idea is to embed Google Maps on web browser control. Besides that requirement is to be possible to communicate Google Maps and Silverlight xap.

WebBrowser control has an event “ScriptNotify” which enables us to receive notifications/messages from inside browser control. Half check.
There is a method on WebBrowser control  “InvokeScript” which enables us to invoke client side javascript with arguments.
Another Half Checked.

So it seems to be possible to realize it.
There is still one issue: Google Maps application has to be on same host that xap (hosting silverlight site should also host google maps) .

End user will have to install your Silverlight app to be able to see maps, but.. what the heck!

You can check it working on example.

Project :SlverlightGoogleMaps.

There is still some concerns but they are related to Out Of Browser applications and a matter for a future discussion.