Dear JDN: Yes, I do. Here's a SUNW press release that has me less than thrilled, to put it mildly:
GlobeXplorer, Inc. Unveils World's Largest
Online Earth Imagery Archive
Sun and MapQuest Collaborate to Engineer Web Site
Delivering Rich Media Content
MENLO PARK, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 12, 2000--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.''
Headquartered in Walnut Creek, Calif., GlobeXplorer was joined by technology partners Sun and
MapQuest in unveiling its Web site from Sun's Silicon Valley campus in Menlo Park. Equipped with
a total of 36 CPUs, Sun(tm) systems including seven Sun Enterprise(tm) 420R servers, three Sun
Enterprise 220R servers, and one Sun Enterprise 250 server make up the backbone for
GlobeXplorer's Web site, which is designed to handle up to three million hits per day. In addition,
GlobeXplorer's 12-terabyte image archive resides on 12 Sun StorEdge(tm) A1000 disk arrays.
``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 partnership of the number one online mapping provider and the largest online earth imagery
database has allowed for the creation of a powerful new medium that provides Web site consumers
with the ability to create truly personalized views of the world,'' said Michael Nappi, general
manager of the MapQuest Business Solutions Group. ``With street level maps providing the detailed
location context and photographic imagery providing the real world landscape, consumers can
virtually see the streets of New York City, or explore the neighboring suburbs of West Chester
County for a new place to live.''
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.
``Our images will help drive consumers to a customer's Web site and keep them there longer,''
Shanks said. ``E-businesses integrating our imagery into their Web sites will have a clear
competitive advantage.'' For example, in the real estate market, potential buyers will be able to view
detailed images of entire neighborhoods, streets and buildings.
About GlobeXplorer, Inc.
Founded in 1999, GlobeXplorer, Inc. is the world's largest online supplier of high-resolution earth
imagery over the Internet to e-businesses. GlobeXplorer, www.globexplorer.com, is backed
financially by Harrods Holdings, plc, and Mitsubishi, and warehouses the world's largest online
archive of earth imagery spanning the globe. Technology by Sun Microsystems and MapQuest
powers the GlobeXplorer Image Server that delivers images of the earth to e-commerce sites in real
time. GlobeXplorer technology partners also include AT&T.
More information about GlobeXplorer subscription services and retail products is available at
www.globexplorer.com.
About Sun Microsystems, Inc.
Since its inception in 1982, a singular vision, ``The Network Is The Computer(tm),'' has propelled
Sun Microsystems, Inc. (Nasdaq:SUNW - news) to its position as a leading provider of high quality
hardware, software and services for establishing enterprise-wide Intranets and expanding the power
of the Internet. With $15.7 billion in annual revenues, Sun can be found in more than 170 countries
and on the World Wide Web at sun.com.
About MapQuest
MapQuest, a wholly owned subsidiary of America Online, Inc., is a leader in providing online,
voice and wireless mapping, directions and destination information solutions to consumers anytime,
anywhere. MapQuest.com is the leading provider of maps on the Internet, licensing its branded
solutions to more than 1,500 business partners and has links from more than 300,000 Web pages. It
is ranked among the 20 most powerful U.S. brands on the Internet and is consistently among Media
Metrix's Top 50 Web sites. Every month one in five Internet users access MapQuest content, and
more than 10 million MapQuest maps are downloaded each day. MapQuest utilizes wireless and
voice recognition technologies to provide travelers and consumers with the tools to continually
access mapping and driving directions, and its content is available through a multitude of devices,
including Sprint PCS, AT&T PocketNet and Nokia mobile telephones, and Palm electronic
organizers. MapQuest.com is a part of the AOL Interactive Properties Group.
Note to Editors: Sun, Sun Microsystems, the Sun logo, Digital Journey, Sun Enterprise, Sun
StorEdge, Java and ``The Network Is The Computer,'' are trademarks or registered trademarks of
Sun Microsystems, Inc. in the United States and other countries.
All SPARC trademarks are used under license and are trademarks or registered trademarks of
SPARC International, Inc. in the United States and other countries. Products bearing SPARC
trademarks are based upon architecture developed by Sun Microsystems, Inc.
Contact:
GlobeXplorer, Inc.
Barbara Keely, 925/280-8765
or
Sun Microsystems, Inc.
Terri Molini, 408/517-5662
or
MapQuest.com
Billy Kenny, 212/484-6783
biz.yahoo.com
This service looks invasive to me.
Regards,
Lynn |
