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Launch of Microsoft Virtual Earth in Portugal last week - Great Event, Great Coverage!

As I told you in my previous posts, Microsoft Portugal launched Virtual Earth last week on Monday March 10th, 2008. It was a great event where Microsoft and the Portuguese Government celebrated the country joining Virtual Earth and how this will open the way for Public Services to use geo-reference services over the web.

Media coverage has been huge!
I wanted to quickly share with you what happened. I think 2 prime times stories in the evening news in a single week is big enough to be mentionned ;-)
Like me, you may not understand Portuguese. No problem, watch the videos as they are very interesting and sexy (I always find VE sexy ;-))

Video 1: SIC News, March 10th 2008

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Video 2: SIC News, prime time story, VE uncovered, March 16th, 2008

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Virtual Earth sets the stage in Portugal!

Highlights:

· Launch event on March 10^th with Minister of Environment, Secretary of State of Modernization, Secretary of State of Internal Affairs, Secretary of State of Defense, President of the National Geographical Institute

o Over 120 VIP attendees in the room, among Government elites and press

· 20 reporters attended, including 2 TV stations

· 23 unique stories in the first week!

· Altogether 4 top stories, including 2 TV on prime time (see videos above)

The political launch event in detail:

· The public signature ceremony of contract signed with Portuguese Government, through IGP (Instituto Geografico Português, http://www.igeo.pt/),* took place last Monday, March 10^th, at the Ministry of the environment, planning and regional development. IGP is an Institute integrated in this Ministry with the responsibility to execute the government geographic information policy.**

· The event was sponsored by the Minister of the environment, planning and regional development, Francisco Nunes Correia. Secretaries of State and a few Director Generals of the Public Administration and several high profile members of the public Administration were there.* The secretaries of State of Defense and Modernization of the Public Administration have shown immediate interest to use VE platform in their services. IGP, Microsoft, Secretary of State for the Modernization of the Public Administration and the Minister spoke at the event.

a. Fantastic 3^rd party validation: Making available to Microsoft high resolution photos of the whole country is a decision with a high impact on territory management quality, both for private entities and for Public Administration. This agreement has also the merit of cooperating with ongoing high quality initiatives, such as VE, instead of reinventing the wheel, the Minister Francisco Nunes Correia said.

Minister of Environment***************************** Vice-President of National Portuguese Geographical Institute

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