Microsoft Acquires 3-D Modeling Software Company Caligari

Adding to its already impressive portfolio of mapping tools and capabilities, Microsoft has acquired 3-D modeling software company Caligari. The group will be a part of the Virtual Earth team, apparently, but the software is equally used for gaming and game development. Microsoft already had powerful 3-D modeling capabilities and assets from Vexcel, which it […]

Chat with SearchBot

Adding to its already impressive portfolio of mapping tools and capabilities, Microsoft has acquired 3-D modeling software company Caligari. The group will be a part of the Virtual Earth team, apparently, but the software is equally used for gaming and game development. Microsoft already had powerful 3-D modeling capabilities and assets from Vexcel, which it acquired in May 2006.


Google has also bulked up its 3-D capabilities, but Microsoft is farther along in rolling out 3-D cities and images on the Virtual Earth platform.

It’s not clear to me why the company wanted Caligari when it had automated 3-D rendering from Vexcel. It’s likely that the two sets of technologies will complement one another. Also in this 3-D mapping segment are Everyscape and UpNext.

These 3-D mapping capabilities point the way to “next-generation” local search products as well as offerings that can potentially transfer to other platforms like TV. There’s also a not-too-distant scenario where 3-D maps and “virtual worlds” collide.


Opinions expressed in this article are those of the guest author and not necessarily Search Engine Land. Staff authors are listed here.


About the author

Greg Sterling
Contributor
Greg Sterling is a Contributing Editor to Search Engine Land, a member of the programming team for SMX events and the VP, Market Insights at Uberall.

Get the must-read newsletter for search marketers.