diff --git a/lib/OpenLayers/Layer/VirtualEarth.js b/lib/OpenLayers/Layer/VirtualEarth.js
index d6be0a57ed..e29bc366e2 100644
--- a/lib/OpenLayers/Layer/VirtualEarth.js
+++ b/lib/OpenLayers/Layer/VirtualEarth.js
@@ -70,7 +70,15 @@ OpenLayers.Layer.VirtualEarth = OpenLayers.Class(
      *     projection, which allows support for vector drawing, overlaying
      *     other maps, etc. 
      */
-    sphericalMercator: false, 
+    sphericalMercator: false,
+    
+    /**
+     * APIProperty: animationEnabled
+     * {Boolean} If set to true, the transition between zoom levels will be
+     *     animated. Set to false to match the zooming experience of other
+     *     layer types. Default is true.
+     */
+    animationEnabled: true, 
 
     /** 
      * Constructor: OpenLayers.Layer.VirtualEarth
@@ -117,6 +125,9 @@ OpenLayers.Layer.VirtualEarth = OpenLayers.Class(
 
             } catch (e) { }
             this.mapObject.HideDashboard();
+            if(typeof this.mapObject.SetAnimationEnabled == "function") {
+                this.mapObject.SetAnimationEnabled(this.animationEnabled);
+            }
         }
 
         //can we do smooth panning? this is an unpublished method, so we need