A couple of interesting developments in the local search area today:

Yahoo buys Whereonearth

Whereonearth specializes in location-based Internet services, including a sophisticated database of geographical locations that will let users search for local goods and services without entering a zip code or post code.

CoStar is talking with Google & Yahoo

Commercial real estate’s largest data provider is working with Google to integrate its vast stores of building information with the Google Earth interactive satellite mapping service. CoStar Group is in discussions with the Mountain View-based online search company as well as in preliminary talks with Yahoo, its CEO said.

More indications that Tim O’Reilly’s right that we’re continuing to move from platform as competitive advantage to that provided by data