A new immersive 3-D experience focused on delivering a realistic environment comes to Virtual Earth courtesy of Microsoft and Dassault Systèmes. The Redmond Company has announced the evolution of its alliance with Dassault Systèmes, bringing the technology from one of the pioneers in the 3D software market to its Virtual Earth platform.

"Together, our technologies will allow for a fusion of the real and virtual worlds that unleashes our imagined world and bridges it with the one we live in," said Bernard Charlès, president and CEO, Dassault Systèmes. "Our lifelike 3-D modeling solution will provide a robust dimension to Microsoft's powerful, immersive online mapping and visualization experience."

"Our alliance with Dassault Systèmes represents a significant commitment to delivering an ever-increasing level of realism within the Virtual Earth platform," said Stephen Lawler, general manager of Virtual Earth at Microsoft.

The expansion of the alliance between Microsoft and Dassault Systèmes follows the introduction of a 3-D update to Virtual Earth containing elevation data from Intermap Technologies. Although initially only the territory of Great Britain will be updated with Intermap Technologies 3-D data, Western Europe and the U.S. will be added in the future. Microsoft is pouring a consistent amount of efforts and is gathering partner support around Virtual Earth, in order to make the platform a viable alternative to Google Earth. The Virtual Earth platform powers the company's web search and mapping service Live Search Maps.

By comparison, Microsoft's alliance with Dassault Systèmes will result in new features for Virtual Earth. "Combining Microsoft's geolocalization technology with DS's proven 3-D modeling and realistic visualization know-how, this alliance will enable consumers to add an entirely new level of realism within Virtual Earth, providing an unrestricted freedom for creativity and innovation," the Redmond Company stated, revealing that Dassault Systèmes' 3-D modeling technologies will be integrated into Virtual Earth.