Of course, Virtual Earth 3D is just as much a "thick client" as Google Earth. It just happens to be running as an Active/X control in the browser with all of the advantages (easy installation, good browser integration) and disadvantages (gotta use IE on Windows, less of an application "feel") that come with that.

- Michael

"Other than selling the pro version of the viewer, I don’t think they’ve been successful in connecting Google Earth into any sort of business model."

+1 from where I sit in snowy Denver.

And the omission of Google Earth from the recently launched Google Apps suite again raises the question of what exactly Google envisions GE's role being in the business world.

Brian

"Other than selling the pro version of the viewer, I don’t think they’ve been successful in connecting Google Earth into any sort of business model."

Google do seem to have a plan with Google Earth

Create a Customer Base
100+ million downloads
source:http://aecnews.com/news/2006/06/12/1874.aspx

Then add some adverts with the Layers found in Google Earth

mapperz
http://mapperz.blogspot.com/

Think of the millions of people that only know how to use their computers for Outlook and IE or don't want to install a separate application for a one-time use. Not having to install a separate application is a much bigger advantage to Virtual Earth than is being credited for. The potential user base for Google Earth is a tiny fraction of that of a browse-based application.

In fact, Virtual Earth does not really compete with Google Earth, it competes with Google Maps, and blows it away. The real advertising money will be in a browser based application so I wouldn't be surprised if some day GE is retired in favor of a upgraded Google Maps.

To the software developer's mind "web-services" is somthing very different to what Google Earth provides. It is about having a set of functions on your server that client software can call to get some sort of functionality. Like the Flickr API. They host the madchines and their code, client software calls the "uploadPhoto(username, userpassword, photoData)" function and the data is transmitted. It's not about a pplication like GE that provides something useful to look at, there has to be comminication between client and server software, often via a protcol called SOAP. Mayeb that is the defintion used in the interview.is being

The future of the World Wide Web is Virtual Earth.
The amount of data that can be 'mashed-up' with Virtual Earth could totally change how we search and explore Online.

I am currently working on a project with my son in which we have created two new ideas for both businesses and consumers within the Web 2.0 World.
These ideas that we have along with the unlimited potential that we can see for Microsoft's Virtual Earth would exceed any web project that has ever been developed Online.

Imagine the full range of Microsoft's Products and Services being accessed within Virtual Earth, from the X-BOX to API GADGETS.
If there will be any moment in our time that shall sum up what is the meaning of Web 2.0 , then that moment shall be the total realization of Microsoft's Virtual Earth.

i have a question for u guys whether its possible to attach google raster and vector data for commercial use. i am trying to make a website like www.ononemap.com for some indian company.do google allow indian companies to share their data and attach new layers showing my places of interest?
guys please reply me if u have the knowledge. I will be grearful to u guys

If the data isnt stored in googles database, they cant say anything about it. Think about using network links which call an external application and displays the results on google earth.

e.g.

this network link shows ononemap data in google earth

http://www.paglis.co.uk/peehpee/houses/index.php?MIN=300&MAX=450&BED=0&