14 DAY TRIAL // A new 3-D experience has been introduced to Microsoft Virtual Earth. The 3-D update of Microsoft's Virtual Earth viewing platform was enhanced with elevation data from Intermap Technologies. According to Microsoft and Intermap, the Virtual Earth 3-D Update is limited to Great Britain, but this scenario has great chances of changing in the future. The initiative is designed to offer a compelling 3-D experience to Virtual Earth users.
"Microsoft is committed to delivering the highest-accuracy and highest-quality product for our Live Search Maps customers, and this enhancement is another step toward meeting this commitment," said Aric Weiker, director of product management for the Virtual Earth platform at Microsoft. "Having Intermap's highly accurate and reliable foundation layer under our imagery and building models allows us to provide one of the most accurate viewing experiences on the Internet today."
In addition to Great Britain, Intermap is also mapping Western Europe and the United States, and while users will be able to access Virtual Earth imagery combined with 3-D height data from Intermap for England, Scotland and Wales, additional locations will undoubtedly follow. Microsoft's Virtual Earth mapping and location platform is at the heart of Live Search Maps, the company's online search and mapping service. Intermap estimates that it will finish mapping Western Europe by the end of 2007 and the U.S. by 2008.
"This is a fundamental change for the industry as Microsoft raises the bar for accuracy and realistic 3-D experiences," said Eric DesRoche, senior vice president of automotive and consumer electronics at Intermap. "While an accurate visualization application is important to deliver to consumers, our relationship with Microsoft begins to pave the way for the delivery of additional value-added products for the business and consumer markets within Great Britain, Europe and the U.S."