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Google is offloading its satellite imaging business, including several satellites:
Google will sell its Terra Bella business, which includes a group of SkySat Earth imaging satellites, to Planet Labs, the companies confirmed on Friday after TechCrunch's Ingrid Lunden first reported that a deal was going down on January 25. Google's space-high view of the world in its mapping software isn't going anywhere, however – Google will continue to license Earth imaging for its use from Planet in a multi-year contract that's part of the sale arrangement.
In a blog post announcing the news, Planet Labs' Will Marshall notes that the seven high-res SkySat satellites it's acquiring as part of the deal will be "highly complimentary" to its existing fleet of medium res satellites, which includes 60 units in total. Planet's existing network can only get three to five meter resolution, while Google's satellites can manage "sub-meter," which is why images on Google Earth and Google Maps tend to be so crisp and clear, like the one you see above.
Bonus: Google listed what it considers its enemies in the company's annual report to investors:
- "Providers of digital video services, such as Facebook, Netflix, Amazon, and Hulu."
- "Digital assistant providers, such as Apple, Amazon, Facebook, and Microsoft."
- "Providers of enterprise cloud services, including Amazon and Microsoft."
- "Companies that design, manufacture, and market consumer electronics products."
It looks like Amazon, particularly AWS and Alexa, is the greatest competitive concern.
(Score: 3, Interesting) by jimtheowl on Monday February 06 2017, @01:27AM
I agree that it might not be a good business decision given their internal requirements for that data.
Nevertheless I think that it might be good for Google to break itself up instead of crumbling under its own weight.
(Score: 2, Interesting) by Anonymous Coward on Monday February 06 2017, @02:51AM
By itself it is not much of an indicator. However, google ssems to have the focus of a 2 year old. Meaning not much. Project after project gets killed just when it gains a bit of traction. All they have is advertising and search. *all* of their products either help that or they are shit canned. Even search is still just an advertising platform. If you want to see how well google is doing only look at those 2 indicators. Everything else is just one accountant away from being sold or canned.
The translation I get from it as an external developer. Do not use their platform. They will leave you swinging in the wind. I enjoy their products while they have them but will not build a business on their products.
(Score: 2) by frojack on Monday February 06 2017, @04:33AM
I agree that it might not be a good business decision given their internal requirements for that data.
The way the TFS reads we are lead to believe Google needs this data in support of Maps and Earth, and advertising. But I'm not so sure.
Selling off the capital goods, allows Google to sell off maps/earth later. Or as soon as they fuck those products up with too much advertising.
They've already ruined the web with advertising, and they are setting out to destroy Maps with the same technique. Why the shift in focus? Because they've got maps on every platform and pushed to most new car dashboards.
But foisting advertising into all those places could result in a huge backlash, or government regulation, or government charges especially by the EU. So sell off the infrastructure for top dollar. And sell off maps/earth as soon as it becomes expedient.
No, you are mistaken. I've always had this sig.