SpatialNews.com Press Release
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., 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) 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 http://www.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
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