So what does it actually mean? Adding Virtual Earth tiles to ArcGIS Desktop/Explorer? First off, this isn’t a free service. The ArcGIS Online Premium Service: Virtual Earth Maps Collection will cost you. How much? Not a clue. I’m sure it will be at a price point that will make some jaws drop and others will remark how cheap it really is. See the bottom of the post for pricing. One thing to keep in mind as well, “You must use ArcGIS 9.3 to be able to connect to ArcGIS Online Premium Services“. This means that if you are on 9.2, you’ll need to upgrade to enjoy the Virtual Earth maps and aerial images.
What about ArcGIS Explorer? It too can take advantage of the Virtual Earth service. But it will also require a subscription to the premium maps. If you want free access to Microsoft’s imagery in a 3D globe, you’ll have to use the 3D control in the browser (or NASA World Wind assuming that thing still works).
Now what about Server? This agreement only covers Desktop and Explorer. Thus you’ll only need to continue using it the way you already are. No big changes here. What about existing Microsoft licenses? That would appear to not cover this agreement, you’ll have to re-license data from ESRI for ArcGIS Desktop and Explorer.
ESRI operators are standing by to take that order for Virtual Earth data
Update: Jithen says that the cost will be $200/user a year.
8 Comments
Yo James,
I have posted the costing for this on my writeup which I updated: http://mandown.co.nz/microsoft/microsoft-virtual-earth-to-be-offered-with-esri-s-arcgis-online-services/
Have a look towards the bottom.
Cheers
$200 a user is stupid stupid stupid. It works out great for the small shops…..but an organization with 100+ users? Give me a break.
Wow… you can use VE in WorldWind.net and WWJava for free… ESRI didn’t ask nicely enough?
Well, wait.. this would allow for commercial use of the VE imagery.. whereas in WW it is non-commercial use. But $200/year is not that bad compared to yearly cost of some other software and data packages.
JW: I’m not so sure that the $200 is the set price. I’m sure there has to be volume licensing.
There has to be.
I’ve been able to access most of this imagery from Manifold, with the exception of the 3D stuff, but obviously due to the EULA I wasn’t allowed to place it in my paper maps.
Does this really allow me to access all this imagery and put it into my non-web maps for $200/year? If so sign me up.
At $200/user/yr., VE is probably a viable option for many of the organizations that request our county’s data. I’m sure that other local governments, like us, are seeing fewer and fewer requests for data as more options like this become available. Fewer requests are fine because data requests are often a burden on the GIS program resulting in a lot of work that generate paltry amounts of revenue.
We’ve cut our data prices several times in the past few years and are looking to cut them further. VE in 9.3 is yet another item I can bring to the attention of policymakers I report to to bolster my argument that we need to keep moving in the direction of free or very low cost data and services being made available to the public in an easily accessible way that doesn’t create a lot of new work for us
The bottom line in my mind is that the rules of the game have changed dramatically since we and many other agencies started our GIS programs, and as so often happens with government, by and large we’re missing the boat and are stuck in old mindsets and ways of thinking.
The fact that you still have to license with Microsoft as well is important. While a typical desktop user won’t request very many tiles, if someone were to author a web app with VE tiles you could be paying a pretty good chunk of change to Microsoft.
Did the ESRI pricing mention how much for ArcGIS Server to use the premium online services?
You cannot license the Virtual Earth data for either mobile or server. You have to use Microsoft’s VE API itself.
Now ESRI does offer “premium” aerials for their server product and I believe those cost over $500.