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`Microsoft, Partners Announce Microsoft
`TerraServer – Global Atlas Is World’s
`Largest Database on the Web
`
`June 24, 1998 |
`
`WASHINGTON, June 24, 1998 — Microsoft Corp. today announced
`that Microsoft® TerraServer, the world’s largest database on the Web, is
`available now at http://www.terraserver.microsoft.com/ . The site
`contains more than a trillion bytes of compressed aerial and satellite
`Earth photos that constitute the world’s largest and most detailed atlas.
`Microsoft TerraServer is expected to benefit consumers, academics and
`government and corporate users by enabling them to view and
`download geographic photos with unprecedented clarity and detail.
`
`Microsoft TerraServer, running on a prerelease version of Microsoft SQL
`Server
`™version 7.0 Enterprise Edition, demonstrates the tremendous
`scalability of Microsoft SQL Server and the Microsoft Windows NT®
`Server operating system Enterprise Edition. The site also demonstrates
`how customers can combine numeric, text and image data in the same
`database, and deliver all of this information seamlessly over the Web.
`
`Microsoft created the site with Compaq Computer Corp., the U.S.
`Geological Survey (USGS) and Aerial Images Inc., the provider of SPIN-2
`high-resolution satellite and digital imagery. SPIN-2 data is imagery
`acquired from SOVINFORMSPUTNIK, a branch of the Russian Space
`Agency. Microsoft unveiled the site here today as part of Federal
`Enterprise Day, an event co-hosted by Microsoft and Compaq for
`government agencies building or augmenting their computer networks.
`
`“With Microsoft TerraServer, we’re giving ‘Information at Your Fingertips’
`an entirely new, worldwide dimension by providing unique and
`
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`https://news.microsoft.com/...ers-announce-microsoft-terraserver-global-atlas-is-worlds-largest-database-on-the-web/#QVkfelyRLXLgsTek.97[5/3/2017 1:14:43 PM]
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`Microsoft, Ex. 1024
`Microsoft v. Bradium, IPR2016-01897
`
`
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`Microsoft, Partners Announce Microsoft TerraServer - Global Atlas Is World's Largest Database on the Web - News Center
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`interesting information to everyone, everywhere,”
`said Jim Gray, senior researcher at Microsoft’s Bay Area Research Center
`in San Francisco.
`“In addition to showing off the extraordinary abilities of Microsoft SQL
`Server 7.0 Enterprise Edition to support massive, highly scalable
`databases on the Web, Microsoft TerraServer is a great example of
`collaboration with other companies and organizations to pioneer
`cutting-edge technologies for an application that never existed before.”
`
`The new site combines USGS photos of more than 30 percent of the
`United States with SPIN-2 satellite imagery of Europe, Asia, Africa and
`the Americas. The highly detailed images allow users to zoom in as
`close as 1.0 meter resolution, which allows them to identify buildings
`and cars (but not people).
`
`With 5 terabytes of uncompressed image data, Microsoft TerraServer is
`bigger than all the HTML pages combined already on the Internet. If
`printed in a paper atlas with 500 pages per volume, it would span 2,000
`volumes. And with new information continually coming online from
`USGS and SPIN-2, Microsoft TerraServer is expected to double in size
`over the next year.
`
`The TerraServer images are available for viewing free of charge. In
`addition, SPIN-2 and the USGS are making the images available as high-
`quality prints and digital files for a modest fee. Using Microsoft Site
`Server 3.0 Commerce Edition, Aerial Images and the USGS accept credit
`card orders efficiently and securely over the Internet. (See
`accompanying Aerial Images and USGS press releases.) Microsoft
`derives no income from this service. The Microsoft TerraServer database
`is expected to be of interest to consumers as well as users in real estate,
`construction, urban and regional planning, education, environmental
`services, public safety and government.
`
`Beyond demonstrating the scalability of Microsoft SQL Server Enterprise
`Edition and Microsoft Windows NT Server Enterprise Edition, TerraServer
`also demonstrates the scalability of Compaq’s AlphaServer and
`StorageWorks hardware. The system runs on a Compaq Alpha Server
`8400 system with eight 440 MHz Compaq Alpha processors and 324
`StorageWorks disks. (See accompanying Compaq press release.)
`
`“We’re delighted that when Microsoft sought hardware support for the
`world’s largest online database, it turned to AlphaServer and
`StorageWorks solutions,”
`said Gerard van de Aast, vice president of Digital’s Global Alliances.
`“The combination of Microsoft SQL Server 7.0 Enterprise Edition,
`Windows NT Server Enterprise Edition, AlphaServer and StorageWorks is
`an unprecedented powerhouse that delivers all the scalability a
`
`https://news.microsoft.com/...ers-announce-microsoft-terraserver-global-atlas-is-worlds-largest-database-on-the-web/#QVkfelyRLXLgsTek.97[5/3/2017 1:14:43 PM]
`
`
`
`Microsoft, Partners Announce Microsoft TerraServer - Global Atlas Is World's Largest Database on the Web - News Center
`
`corporate or government provider could want, with seamless access to
`the Internet and unbeatable price performance.”
`
`Microsoft SQL Server 7.0, due to be publicly available later this year,
`makes the TerraServer possible because it provides support for massive,
`scalable databases and for hosting those databases on the Web. The
`advanced technology in Microsoft SQL Server 7.0 supports 1-terabyte
`plus databases with faster backup, multisite update replication,
`distributed query and very large database (VLDB) enhancements.
`
`Developed by a world-class development team, Microsoft SQL Server
`7.0 is the leading Windows® operating system-compatible database,
`bringing business advantage and improved decision-making to all levels
`of the organization through the power of data warehousing, industry
`solutions and interoperability with Microsoft Office. Microsoft SQL Server
`7.0 enables independent software vendors and customers to build and
`deploy scalable database solutions for
`
`e-commerce, line of business, mobile computing and data warehousing.
`Microsoft SQL Server is a member of the Microsoft BackOffice® family,
`a set of servers that makes it easy to build, manage and deploy powerful
`business solutions.
`
`Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq
`“MSFT”
`) is the worldwide leader in software for personal computers. The
`company offers a wide range of products and services for business and
`personal use, each designed with the mission of making it easier and
`more enjoyable for people to take advantage of the full power of
`personal computing every day.
`
`Microsoft, Windows NT, Windows and BackOffice are either registered
`trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corp. in the United States and/or
`other countries.
`
`Other product and company names herein may be trademarks of their
`respective owners.
`
`Note to editors: If you are interested in viewing additional information
`on Microsoft, please visit the Microsoft Web page at
`http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/ on Microsoft’s corporate
`information pages.
`
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`https://news.microsoft.com/...ers-announce-microsoft-terraserver-global-atlas-is-worlds-largest-database-on-the-web/#QVkfelyRLXLgsTek.97[5/3/2017 1:14:43 PM]
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`Microsoft, Partners Announce Microsoft TerraServer - Global Atlas Is World's Largest Database on the Web - News Center
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`https://news.microsoft.com/...ers-announce-microsoft-terraserver-global-atlas-is-worlds-largest-database-on-the-web/#QVkfelyRLXLgsTek.97[5/3/2017 1:14:43 PM]
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