Is there any real proof MapInfo plans this? Also there are BIG issues.
First of all, if you're buying data from MapInfo, their license agreement is
extremely strict!
You would be breaking the license agreement if:
1. You shared any data or DERIVATIVE works with anyone. (You license data
by the number of users - the viewer may be free, but the data can not be
distributed free!)
2. You made a Paper map & sold it!
Yep!
Dan
-----Original Message-----
From: Bill Thoen <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: 'MapInfo-L' <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Date: Friday, March 12, 1999 12:29 PM
Subject: Re: MI MapInfo Free Viewer?
>When I first heard this rumor a few days ago, I didn't credit it,
>because I didn't think MapInfo could move so adroitly while
>carrying that financial baggage known as stockholders. But after
>considering it a bit more, I think it would be an amazingly smart
>move for MapInfo to do so. This is right in line with what "The
>Information Discovery" company ought to be doing, and building it
>in Java is rather clever and shows some style.
>
>In one stroke, they would open up the GIS market to many more
>people that would otherwise never see MapInfo for months more,
>become the darling of all the tech press (Java is an especially
>cool idea just now), impress developers as being "on top of
>things" because java will run well on anything from a PC, Mac or
>worksation to a palmtop (and it's free too), get out from under
>the heel of Microsoft without rejecting their world altogether,
>and leave ESRI crying into their beer wondering why they didn't
>think of it first.
>
>Suddenly the USGS would be able (and encouraged) to distribute
>this viewer with all their data; schools, libraries, non-profits,
>data vendors, etc. would use it and the market would develop.
>Helping the community by getting mapping into these places
>doesn't cut into profits, anyway. In an information economy, it's
>just the reverse. Go to places where there's lots of people, even
>though they have little money now, win their hearts and minds,
>and as their needs and abilities grow, their wallets will follow.
>In an information economy, it's not the other way around.
>
>Sales for the Professional tools and data would rise with the
>increasing presence of the tools too. Now so many more people
>would finally know why they need such a tool, that resellers will
>find all sorts of new markets to work in. Developers would have
>lots more work too. Stockholders would wonder, "How in the world
>can we be making so much money when they're giving away
>technology?" It's that they they're giving away technology, but
>that it's *what* they give away. Give away the right tools and
>you stimulate an economy. Anyway, I get into the why in my April
>GeoWorld column, "Internet Turns Traditional Economics Models
>Upside Down", but basically, a new economy is emerging and there
>are new rules. If you're interested, see Kevin Kelly's article,
>"New Rules for the New Economy" at
>http://www.wired.com/wired/5.09/newrules.html. In particular,
>check out the "Law of Plentitude" (sic).
>
>Of course, what do I know? I'm just guessing. Interesting rumor
>though, eh?
>
>- Bill Thoen
>
>
>Bedarf, Derek wrote:
>
>> Check out Directions Magazine's Scoop section.
>>
>> http://www.directionsmag.com/Scoop.asp?ScoopID=2
>>
>> Anyone have any thoughts or additional info?
>
>
>
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