diff --git a/examples/draggingGoogle.html b/examples/smoothDragging.html
similarity index 70%
rename from examples/draggingGoogle.html
rename to examples/smoothDragging.html
index c5b0c0f685..834d78a59f 100755
--- a/examples/draggingGoogle.html
+++ b/examples/smoothDragging.html
@@ -8,7 +8,8 @@
         }
     </style>
 
-    <script src='http://maps.google.com/maps?file=api&amp;v=2.82&amp;key=ABQIAAAAjpkAC9ePGem0lIq5XcMiuhR_wWLPFku8Ix9i2SXYRVK3e45q1BQUd_beF8dtzKET_EteAjPdGDwqpQ'></script>
+    <script src='http://maps.google.com/maps?file=api&amp;v=2.82&amp;key=ABQIAAAAjpkAC9ePGem0lIq5XcMiuhQtCjFYhdtNUZyqZQW2mFbq_dOIHBSGvjZ-C7_tXAXYdB-ehlOacmC_xA'></script>
+    <script src='http://dev.virtualearth.net/mapcontrol/v3/mapcontrol.js'></script>
 
     <script src="../lib/OpenLayers.js"></script>
     <script type="text/javascript">
@@ -36,6 +37,18 @@
                 {'sphericalMercator': true}
             );
 
+            // create Virtual Earth layers
+            var ve = new OpenLayers.Layer.VirtualEarth(
+                "Virtual Earth Raods",
+                {'type': VEMapStyle.Road, 'sphericalMercator': true}
+            ); 
+
+            // create Virtual Earth layers
+            var ve = new OpenLayers.Layer.VirtualEarth(
+                "Virtual Earth Raods",
+                {'type': VEMapStyle.Road, 'sphericalMercator': true}
+            ); 
+
             // create WMS layer
             var wms = new OpenLayers.Layer.WMS(
                 "World Map",
@@ -47,7 +60,7 @@
                 }
             );
 
-            map.addLayers([gmap, wms]);
+            map.addLayers([gmap, wms, ve]);
             map.addControl(new OpenLayers.Control.LayerSwitcher());
             map.zoomToMaxExtent()
         }
@@ -55,7 +68,7 @@
     </script>
   </head>
   <body onload="init()">
-    <h2>OpenLayers With Responsive Google Dragging</h3>
+    <h2>OpenLayers With Responsive Dragging</h3>
     <h3>Uses Google Maps v2.82</h2>
     <div id="map"></div>
   </body>
diff --git a/lib/OpenLayers/Layer/VirtualEarth.js b/lib/OpenLayers/Layer/VirtualEarth.js
index 8518d3c60a..e55bf4d5ba 100644
--- a/lib/OpenLayers/Layer/VirtualEarth.js
+++ b/lib/OpenLayers/Layer/VirtualEarth.js
@@ -103,10 +103,28 @@ OpenLayers.Layer.VirtualEarth = OpenLayers.Class(
 
         if (this.mapObject != null) {
             try { // this is to catch a Mozilla bug without falling apart
-                this.mapObject.LoadMap(null, null, this.type);
+
+                // The fourth argument is whether the map is 'fixed' -- not 
+                // draggable. See: 
+                // http://blogs.msdn.com/virtualearth/archive/2007/09/28/locking-a-virtual-earth-map.aspx
+                //
+                this.mapObject.LoadMap(null, null, this.type, true);
+                this.mapObject.AttachEvent("onmousedown", function() {return true; });
+
             } catch (e) { }
             this.mapObject.HideDashboard();
         }
+
+        //can we do smooth panning? this is an unpublished method, so we need 
+        // to be careful
+        if ( !this.mapObject ||
+             !this.mapObject.vemapcontrol ||
+             !this.mapObject.vemapcontrol.PanMap ||
+             (typeof this.mapObject.vemapcontrol.PanMap != "function")) {
+
+            this.dragPanMapObject = null;
+        }
+
     },
 
     /** 
@@ -169,6 +187,17 @@ OpenLayers.Layer.VirtualEarth = OpenLayers.Class(
         return this.mapObject.GetCenter();
     },
 
+    /**
+     * APIMethod: dragPanMapObject
+     * 
+     * Parameters:
+     * dX - {Integer}
+     * dY - {Integer}
+     */
+    dragPanMapObject: function(dX, dY) {
+        this.mapObject.vemapcontrol.PanMap(dX, -dY);
+    },
+
     /** 
      * APIMethod: getMapObjectZoom
      * 
