MSN to launch Virtual Earth service
27 May 2005
Microsoft's MSN is reportedly due to enhance its search engine with a new local search index for directory listings.
Expected within the next couple of weeks, the local search service will be supplemented with MSN Virtual Earth, a free service that will pinpoint places in maps and satellite images.
Virtual Earth will let users overlay maps and satellite photos in order to create hybrid images and will be integrated with users' preferred email application, placing links to maps and images in email messages with a single click.
Users will also be able to post images to their MSN Spaces Weblog from within the MSN Virtual Earth interface and will be encouraged to provide feedback on business directory listings for MSN.
Search engine rivals, Google, Yahoo! and Ask already have a local search tab on their search websites and Google also provides Google Maps, a service with local maps and satellite images.
Microsoft chairman and chief technical officer Bill Gates demonstrated Virtual Earth at a company event and officials said it would be available sometime between June 21st and September 22nd this year.
MSN Virtual Earth uses technology from MapPoint and from Terra Server, a database of satellite images that Microsoft has owned for about ten years.
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