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Bing Maps Streetside Imagery Now Integrated into OpenStreetMap iD Editor

blogs.bing.com

1–10 of 49 posts

Re: Bing Maps Streetside Imagery Now Integrated into OpenStreetMap iD Editor

#4
Regardless of the motivations behind doing this (cynics could easily suggest it is a direct attack on Google Maps) this is great news for both OSM and the broader mapping ecosystem.

The data OSM provides is immensely valuable and enables some really empowering applications.

Re: Bing Maps Streetside Imagery Now Integrated into OpenStreetMap iD Editor

#7

This title seems inaccurate. The article makes it sound like the data is just retrieved, from Microsoft, when using a specific editor. OSM doesn’t actually have the data nor are they are distributing it.

Yes, I don't believe they are licensing the data.

(edit: my mistake, there is a license of sorts, see the comment below)

Re: Bing Maps Streetside Imagery Now Integrated into OpenStreetMap iD Editor

#8

Is this just a case of this uneasy friendliness that MS has had recently toward the open ecosystem, or is MS trying to play a big-league game to combat Google Map's dominance?

It's both. Microsoft is all in on cloud services and infrastructure. They want full ecosystem for Azure customers, and GeoAPIs are important for many users. Next, with upcoming HoloLens they want devs to create some amazing real-time lens apps.

Re: Bing Maps Streetside Imagery Now Integrated into OpenStreetMap iD Editor

#9
post #3

Microsoft continues to make me want to like them, it’s strange

> it’s strange

it's not. They've lost their dominant position (mind-share wise at least) and is clamouring to get it back. Google, on the other hand, has gained a dominant position, and got complacent lately; and people are starting to lose faith in them.

But in the end, the goal is to ensure they have good PR.

Re: Bing Maps Streetside Imagery Now Integrated into OpenStreetMap iD Editor

#10
post #4

Regardless of the motivations behind doing this (cynics could easily suggest it is a direct attack on Google Maps) this is great news for both OSM and the broader mapping ecosystem. The data OSM provides is immensely valuable and enables some really empowering applications.

Of course it’s an attack on Google Maps, and that’s a good thing. People should be happy to have Microsoft’s help in fighting Google because Google is much scarier than Microsoft these days.
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