You can now expect Google to show you HD landscapes

Our very favourite internet giant has decided to acquire things above the stratosphere. Google Maps and Google Earth are perhaps among the most sophisticated services offered by Google. Running the extra mile to enhance and keep it updates, Google has acquired Skybox Imaging for $500 million.

Skybox is a young startup located in the whereabouts of Google’s headquarters in the same Silicon Valley city. This company is a private sector satellite maker and is led by Tom Ingersoll. The services provided by this California-based company includes the recording of high-definition video of landscapes and detailed imagery by the satellites and making them accessible.

Now that Google has acquires this start-up, we can expect Tom Ingersoll to work on additional satellites to keep Google’s Maps updates.

This is not the first off the ground acquisition for Google. It recently acquires Titan Aerospace that again deals with the making of satellites and provision of images. Establishing a strong foundation in shooting to the sky, Google said it plans to use satellites to improve Internet access to all. This can also be a wise strategy for disaster relief that Google seems keen to establish.

Skybox imaging also deploys data centers. Google can exploit Skybox tech for data analytics. This data is aggregated from the millions of images that the company shoots.

The Skybox blog also suggests things about self-driving cars (it looks more like a filler, but let’s see if they do mean it!)

Here’s a part of the blog post from Skybox:

We’re thrilled to announce that Skybox Imaging has entered into an agreement to be acquired by Google!

Five years ago, we began the Skybox journey to revolutionize access to information about the changes happening across the surface of the Earth.

We’ve made great strides in the pursuit of that vision.

Via : Skybox Imaging