French Company picks Microsoft's Virtual Earth over Google

By Jeremy Kirk, IDG News Service

Maporama International, a French location services company, has has partneered with Microsoft to use its Virtual Earth mapping and satellite imagery, the companies said on Thursday.

Maporama's business is focused on location-based services, such as back-end Web server technology to incorporate various mapping features into Web sites. The company also provides services and creates software incorporating GPS (global position system) data, among other products.

Maporama, a 45-person company founded in 2000, already works with about 30 different mapping providers. Google's mapping and satellite products were also initially under consideration, but Microsoft's product road map is a better fit for Maporama's needs.

Maporama was also attracted to Microsoft's oblique imagery, which is so far not available with Google. Microsoft calls the feature "bird's-eye view," so buildings and landscapes can be viewed closer up at a 45-degree angle.

Posted by:
Setzel Anne Marie Suresca
IV-Tau
June 30, 2007

source: www.infoworld.com