GeoForce Technologies Upgrades to UltraCamXp Wide Angle

Graz, Austria—January 5, 2010—Vexcel Imaging GmbH, a Microsoft company, has signed a purchase agreement with GeoForce Technologies Co., Ltd. of Taiwan to upgrade an UltraCamD to an UltraCamXp Wide Angle large format digital aerial camera system. The deal was brokered by Imagemaps, Vexcel Imaging’s sales representative responsible for the People’s Republic of China, Taiwan, Australia, New Zealand and ASEAN (Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Brunei, Thailand, Philippines, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia and Myanmar).

“This upgrade to the UltraCamXp Wide Angle was an easy decision for us,” said Robert Hsu, President of GeoForce Technologies. “We appreciate the UltraCam heritage, and the UltraCamXp Wide Angle has the right combination of large area coverage and high radiometric and geometric quality for our customers.” 

GeoForce Technologies will use the UltraCamXp Wide Angle to serve its existing customers, including agencies in counties and the central government, academic and research institutions, and the telecommunications industry.

“We are pleased that GeoForce Technologies is continuing its legacy as an innovative company by selecting the UltraCamXp Wide Angle to support its projects,” said Alexander Wiechert, Business Director of Microsoft and Managing Director for Vexcel Imaging GmbH. “It is the first company to own our newest UltraCam sensor.”

About the UltraCamXp Wide Angle
The new Microsoft UltraCamXp Wide Angle large format digital aerial camera takes advantage of the same innovative camera concept and image quality as the UltraCamXp but features a new proprietary, digital, high-performance, high-resolution lens system with a shorter focal length. This allows the latest UltraCam sensor to deliver the same ground sample distance (GSD) as the UltraCamXp, but at lower flight altitudes. An alternative to the UltraCamXp and at the same price, the UltraCamXp Wide Angle provides small-scale mapping capabilities to customers with lower-flying airplanes. The UltraCamXp Wide Angle provides the same large image format as the UltraCamXp at 196 megapixels (17,310 across track x 11,310 along track), and a pixel size at 6 µm. It integrates fully with existing UltraCamXp and UltraCamX storage and computing systems and is fully supported by Vexcel Imaging’s UltraMap 2.0 workflow software system.

About Vexcel Imaging, GmbH
Acquired by Microsoft Corporation in May 2006, Vexcel Imaging GmbH brings 20 years of photogrammetry expertise to Microsoft’s Bing Maps business unit and is at the heart of the burgeoning Microsoft Photogrammetry business. The company’s offerings include its series of UltraCam digital aerial mapping cameras and related software tools such as the UltraMap 2.0 workflow software.

About GeoForce Technologies
GeoForce Technologies Co., Ltd., is a leading provider of high-resolution image solutions in Taiwan. Headquartered in Taipei, with branch offices throughout the country, GeoForce Technologies is the first company in Taiwan to own an aerial digital camera. GeoForce delivers a complete range of aerial photo products and hardware / software solutions along with industry-leading professional services and support. More information about GeoForce Tecnologies can be found on the web at http://www.geoforce.com.tw and http://www.geoforce.com.tw/gf/companyen.php, or call 886-2-8712-6609.