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* Disclosure lest I be slammed: This question is in the realm of market research, but I will share with List *
We have a client that has asked us about the feasibility of developing a product analogous to "Napster GIS", albeit, not a dot-com, and not infringing on anyone's IPR illegally. Aside from the obvious negative business perception associated with Napster, the technology of more recent generations is indeed worth looking at.
We have most of the real technical questions and challenges addresses, however, I have difficulty with the compelling business reason for someone or some organization(s) implementing such a "solution". Quite honestly, there doesn't seem to be one. I am not convinced, as some would like to believe, that if we build it, "they" will come.=20=20
There is an argument that it would be a fairly agile competitor to the ESRI Geography Network, and it should be built just because of that argument alone, but if it doesn't make money in a fairly simple manner, it probably wouldn't work long term.
The question really is, what, if any applications do you feel this might have, what problems would this solve, what fatal flaws are not so apparent? Why should or shouldn't this be built. I'm not keen to turn work away, especially these days, however it seems pointless to recommend a strategic direction that will blow up in our/client's face anyway. Replies in private are welcome, but they will be summed on the list. Thanks in advance.
Anthony
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