Microsoft Virtual Earth and ESRI’s ArcGIS have integrated. Microsoft’s mapping and imagery content will be available for use inside ArcGIS 9.3. Users will be able to access ‘resources that add comprehensive depth to their projects.’ The new service is not free; it will be $200 a year per user.

ArcGIS Server 9.3 is going mobile. The TD Group announced the release of Freeance™ Mobile 2.0, a new application that incorporates ESRI’s ArcGIS Server 9.3 Postgres database integration for GPS enabled BlackBerry smartphones. Features include GIS searching and database reporting, and linking database records to GIS map features using reports.

After last week’s release of Google’s walking directions, they have decided to simplify the Google Maps layout. Google aims to create a less cluttered look, allowing for a bigger map display and moving the search to the top of the map. The motto for the new layout is: “less is more.”

ESRI posted their results of the 2008 ESRI Q&A. The answers reveal that ESRI will support ‘the ability to check out licenses and borrow licenses from a central license manger for use in that field’ and that they will continue to support Visual Basic for Application in the future. We’ll be attending the ESRI User’s Conference next week, so stay tuned for some feedback from that!

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This past week, Google Maps and Tele Atlas agreed to a five-year partnership. The Dutch-based mapping company will provide Google with more maps and geographic data, allowing Google to disseminate the information to over 200 countries. The agreement broadens Google Maps and Google Earth, but also allows for a mobile platform – specifically for the much anticipated Google Android.

After the release of ArcGIS 9.3 last week, ESRI has now made web help available. The help documentation is apparently very easy to understand. A few of the help features include ArcGIS 9.3. shortcuts, PDF Support and nominal scaling.

As Bill Gates retired, we take a look back at his predictions on mapping. In 1995, Gates said, “You’ll be able to jump into a map so you can navigate down a street or through the rooms of a building.”

EveryBlock, a virtual map that keeps track of news for every city block in Chicago, New York and San Francisco, just added Charlotte and Philadelphia to the list.

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With Monday’s unveiling of Google’s Map Maker, Google account holders now have the ability to edit and add to certain Google Maps. The Map Maker currently only allows for map editing in a select group of countries including Cyprus, Iceland, Pakistan, Vietnam and the Caribbean nations. Functions of the tool include custom map creations, borders and regions, places of interest and road networks.

ESRI released their downloadable application, ArcGIS Explorer 480, this week. The upgraded version still offers the same basic function of geoprocessing services, but with major improvements such as KML improvements and increase in performance.

Nokia acquired Plazes, an LBS social mapping network. Plazes provides updates of friends’ activities in a find me/follow me type of service. The social mapping application will take Nokia one step closer to “bringing people and places together” and also acknowledges the rise and demand of LBS.

Microsoft and Virtual Earth launched a program that allows state and local governments to share their imagery, called GoVE. All of the imagery from these governments, municipalities and aerial photographers gets sent to Microsoft, which in turn is published by Virtual Earth.

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Mashable reports that Google Maps features a new API that has flash graphics that can be used for each title layer, maker and information windows. This means you can create more dynamic map mashups.

Not only does Google Maps have flash graphics, but they have also added the ability for video sharing, Wikipedia entries, real estate listings, and geo-coded photos.

Google Earth and David Rumsey have formed a relationship where historical map collections are available through a Google Earth layer. More data means more mashups!

Interesting how Where 2.0 has a Twitter account that wasn’t followed nearly as much as it should have been.

All Points Blog also provides a “plain-English” explanation of the Google / ESRI announcement.

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