Tuesday, June 19, 2007 REDMOND, Wash., and DENVER— Microsoft Corp. and Intermap Technologies Corp. today announced the launch of Microsoft's enhanced Virtual Earth™ 3-D viewing platform based on Intermap Technologies' highly accurate and up-to-date elevation data for all of Great Britain. Intermap is also creating similar maps for all of Western Europe and the continental United States. The resulting product delivers a more seamless and accurate 3-D experience for all Internet users visiting Microsoft's Live Search Maps for England, Scotland and Wales.
Intermap's precise and uniform 3-D digital terrain model serves as the foundation for the placement and alignment of aerial photography and other geospatial images. These images are then layered upon this 3-D foundation to better align and place objects without distortion or undulation, thus creating a superior end product.
“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.”
Live Search Maps is Microsoft's online local search and mapping service that combines unique bird's-eye imagery with advanced driving directions, Yellow Pages and other local search tools. Powered by the company's Virtual Earth mapping and location platform, these features give users useful new ways to map and find directions to various locations, and to better visualize their surroundings from multiple aerial vantage points.
“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.”
As part of Intermap's worldwide proactive data collection efforts, Great Britain is currently in the company's data library. In addition, Intermap is now aggressively mapping Europe under its NEXTMap® Europe program. Data for the entire country of Germany is currently being placed in the Intermap library, and data collection for the remainder of Western Europe is scheduled for completion by the end of 2007. The continental U.S. is being mapped concurrently with the European initiative and is scheduled for completion by the end of 2008.
About Intermap Technologies
Intermap Technologies (TSX: IMP.TO, AIM: IMAP.L) enables customers to facilitate better decision-making and create applications for numerous commercial, governmental, military, and consumer products through the purchase of high quality and affordable elevation datasets. The Company is proactively remapping entire countries and building unprecedented national databases, called NEXTMap, consisting of highly accurate digital topographic maps that include elevation data.
Demand for NEXTMap data is growing as new commercial applications are emerging, including geographical information systems (GIS), engineering planning, transportation, automotive, navigation, flood, irrigation, environmental management and planning, telecommunications/wireless network planning, aviation, simulation, and 3D visualization. Internet applications include virtual tours, topographic maps and computer games. Datasets are also used to add interactive intelligence to airborne and satellite imagery.
Headquartered in Denver, Colorado, Intermap employs more than 425 people worldwide, with additional offices in Calgary, Detroit, Jakarta, London, Munich, Ottawa, and Prague. For more information, visit www.intermap.com.
About Microsoft
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq “MSFT”) is the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential.
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For more information, press only:
In the U.S.:
Kevin Thomas, Intermap Technologies, (303) 708-0955, kthomas@.intermap.com
Scott Trepanier, Waggener Edstrom Worldwide for Microsoft, (503) 443-7000, scottr@waggeneredstrom.com
Rapid Response Team, Waggener Edstrom Worldwide for Microsoft, (503) 443-7070, rrt@waggeneredstrom.com
In Europe:
Sue Glanville, EuroPR Group for Intermap Technologies, +(44) (0) 208971 6400, sglanville@europrgroup.com
Note to editors: If you are interested in viewing additional information on Microsoft, please visit the Microsoft Web page at http://www.microsoft.com/presspass on Microsoft's corporate information pages. Web links, telephone numbers and titles were correct at time of publication, but may since have changed. For additional assistance, journalists and analysts may contact Microsoft's Rapid Response Team or other appropriate contacts listed at http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/contactpr.mspx.
Intermap Reader Advisory
This news release contains certain forward-looking statements, which include certain assumptions with respect to the future business and operations of the Company. The reader is cautioned that assumptions used in the preparation of such information may prove to be incorrect. All such forward looking statements involve substantial known and unknown risks and uncertainties, certain of which are beyond the Company's control. The Company's actual results, performance or achievements could differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, these forward-looking statements and, accordingly, no assurances can be given that any of the events anticipated by the forward-looking statements will transpire or occur, or if any of them do so, what benefits that the Company will derive therefrom. All subsequent forward-looking statements, whether written or oral, attributable to the Company or persons acting on its behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by these cautionary statements. Furthermore, the forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as at the date of this news release and the Company does not undertake any obligation to update publicly or to revise any of the included forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required by applicable securities laws.
The TSX has not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
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