This post originated from an RSS feed registered with .NET Buzz by James Avery. Original Post: Google Maps and Microsoft Feed Title: .Avery Blog Feed URL: /blog/Install/BlogNotConfiguredError.aspx Feed Description: .NET and everything nice Latest .NET Buzz Posts Latest .NET Buzz Posts by James Avery Latest Posts From .Avery Blog

Over the last week everyone I know has either shown me the satellite part of Google Maps, or they have emailed me a link, etc. Google managed to create a ton of buzz about their new maps feature even outside of the "geek universe".

Scoble tells us to watch out for Microsoft in this space, and I am sure in the next couple months we will see Microsoft merge their terraserver data (which rocks) with their maps service.... but this is missing the point.

The point is, why didn't they think of this earlier? They have had a map service and the terra server data for a long time, why did they never throw them together? Why does it take Google doing something before Microsoft makes a move? It doesn't seem like a revolutionary idea, and while hind sight is 20-20, if I was a higher up at Microsoft I would do my own little investigation into this. I would treat it in the same way that the government treats an intelligence failure:

How did we miss this?
Did someone have this idea? If so why was it not acted on?
Can these different groups communicate?
Is it easy to present this kind of idea to the decision makers?
Are we aggressively pursuing online opportunities?
What else are we missing? (Where will Google go next)

I would love to see Microsoft get much more aggressive in their online ventures and not just look at it as a way to stave off the competition or promote their main businesses.  

-James