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September 2000
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GlobeXplorer, Inc. Unveils World's Largest Online Earth Imagery Archive
GlobeXplorer, Inc., an online company supplying images of the earth over the Internet, unveiled a first-of-its-kind Web site today that will change the way e-commerce businesses acquire rich media. The formal announcement was made jointly with the company's principal technology partners, Sun Microsystems and MapQuest.com, a leader in providing online, voice and wireless mapping, directions and destination information solutions to consumers anywhere, anytime.
At a live edition of Sun's ``Digital Journey(sm)'' program, GlobeXplorer executives explained how its unique technology will give online business consumers instantaneous access to its global database of images -- more than 12 terabytes of earth imagery. GlobeXplorer imagery provides broad views of the entire earth down to detailed views of neighborhoods, buildings and streets in a way never before possible, right to the desktop.
``GlobeXplorer is intent on fulfilling an unmet need in the booming Internet industry,'' said Rob Shanks, president and CEO at GlobeXplorer. ``There is an insatiable appetite for earth imagery, and we've effectively overcome the principal obstacles associated with access to this content, namely single source and timely delivery at an affordable price.''
``Our systems' tremendous scalability and speed allow GlobeXplorer to address the previously impossible task of real-time access over the web to the world's largest commercial online earth imagery archive in the industry,'' said Rob Hall, vice president of Marketing and Industries at Sun Microsystems. ``The use of Java(tm) technology along with the SPARC(tm) chip's Media Lib technology gives GlobeXplorer the power to provide an immersive experience that is truly cutting-edge.''
MapQuest.com's complementary maps will enhance the user experience by converting a person's location request into the coordinates necessary to identify the image they have requested. MapQuest.com's geocoding functionality converts the address or location name into specific geographic coordinates on the Earth, allowing for GlobeXplorer to search its image library to find the best image that corresponds to the coordinates, and displays it on the site. The GlobeXplorer Web site is deploying one of MapQuest.com's Enterprise Solutions.
The GlobeXplorer Image Server represents sophisticated proprietary technology never before available online. The archive is comprised of color and black and white satellite and aerial photography, 2D images, 3D terrain images and 3D building models depicting major cities around the world. GlobeXplorer's fresh, detailed imagery is aggregated from a world-class network of content partners, each a leader in its industry.
A customizable Application Programming Interface (API) allows clients subscribing to GlobeXplorer Image Server to extract images and present them on their Web sites in a matter of seconds, for just pennies per view. Portal Web sites using GlobeXplorer content include those encompassing real estate, news media, travel and tourism, sports and entertainment and transportation.
More information at www.globexplorer.com
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