ORBIMAGE Agreement with Microsoft: MSN Virtual Earth

ORBIMAGE Inc. (VA, USA) has signed an agreement with Microsoft Corp. (WA, USA) to supply high resolution global satellite image data for MSN Virtual Earth, a key component of MSN Search.

Under the terms of the 5-year agreement, ORBIMAGE will allow Microsoft to incorporate ORBIMAGE's global library of satellite images into MSN Virtual Earth. Microsoft will also have an exclusive source of updated imagery that ORBIMAGE will continue to produce with its OrbView-2 and OrbView-3 satellites as well as new satellites it plans to place into service in the next 18-24 months. The OrbView-3 satellite, the newest high-resolution commercial imaging satellite in operation today, can collect up to 210,000 square kilometres a day of panchromatic (black and white) imagery at one-metre resolution, and colour imagery at four-metre resolution of virtually any area on earth.