Microsoft Marries Photosynth and Virtual Earth

Microsoft confirmed what it referred to as the natural synergy between Photosynth and Virtual Earth in July 2008. Almost a year later, the Redmond company has made yet another step in the marriage of Photosynth and Virtual Earth. Essentially, by integrating the 3D photo technology into its mapping, location and search platform, the software giant is giving the green light to commercial licensing. Updates delivered on May 7 to Photosynth enable businesses to license the technology for their content through Virtual Earth. This is just the first release of the technology that permits business customers to use it for their own applications, Microsoft underlines.

“The integration of Microsoft Photosynth into Virtual Earth marks an important step in enabling businesses to use Photosynth in a relevant, customer-friendly way,” explained Jeff Kelisky, general manager, Mapping and Local Search at Microsoft. “With the integrated capabilities of Photosynth and recently added Silverlight API, our Virtual Earth partners have great tools for creating, sharing, viewing and embedding synths across multiple platforms, and building engaging experiences.”

The combination of Virtual Earth and Photosynth is designed to permit building not only general perspectives over a certain location, but also to offer potential customers even the most minute details possible. Microsoft indicated that with the new controls introduced via the latest updates, Photosynth allowed users a great deal of control over their synths, 3D models built by stitching 2D photos together. In this regard, synths can be private or public, with the owners controlling availability and access, and also being able to introduce highlights to streamline user navigation. Microsoft pointed out that there were already companies and organizations interested in the Photosynth – Virtual Earth combo, NASA being one of them.

“This stunning collection of photographs using Microsoft Photosynth interactive 3-D imaging technology provides people around the world with an exciting new way to explore the International Space Station and learn about NASA’s upcoming Mars Science Laboratory mission,” said S. Pete Worden, director of NASA’s Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, Calif. “This collaboration with Microsoft offers the public the opportunity to participate in future exploration using this innovative technology.”