For PR folks and CEOs: Jason Calacanis On How To Get PR For Your Startup: Fire Your PR Company

Some great tips on being a great PR person for your company and how to deal with the press. Few can do what Jason does, but many can do some of it.

Alley Insider

Best thing about SQL Server Spatial?

It’s free! So says the CIO of e-spatial.

Spatial components of SQL Server used to be available only as third-party plug-ins, but spatial functionality is now integrated into the new version.

“With no added cost, which is brilliant,” says [CIO Matti] Seikkula.

From a relational data perspective, the difference between the older SQL Server 2005 and the 2008 version is not huge, but from a spatial perspective, the new built-in functionalities open up new opportunities for companies, without them having to invest money, says Seikkula.

- Computerworld NZ

Good News for GeoEye: Google Exclusive Deal for High Res GeoEye 1 Imagery

The news popped Thursday night. Of course the bird is not in the sky yet (it launches next week) and the imagery won’t be available for another 45- 60 days. But after that assuming all is well with the satellite and receiving stations, Google will add .5 meter (corrected was: .41 meter; corrected per direct communication from Google and comment) to Google Maps and Google Earth.

No word on the price tag, but it should be a good deal: the deal stipulates the imagery not go to any other on-line mapping websites. And, if it matters, Google’s logo is on the rocket.

- Reuters

Sprint to Offer Localized Services via WiMAX - including Autodesk LS

Sprint’s OHMTM WiMAX mobile broadband is poised to launch in Baltimore in September year. It’s high speed wireless, basically, but, it “will be largely location-centric,” explained Rick Robinson, vice president of XOHM Services. “We’re creating a new dimension to online presence, making points of interest near your current location easy to identify and access. This ‘geobrowsing’ effect provides location context and will give XOHM members a richer personal broadband experience when they’re mobile.”

I read this as: this service is more “LBS-y” than say your iPhone with AT&T service. Perhaps; for now the list of app and platform providers is quite familiar: uLocate, Yelp, Accuweather, OpenWave, Google… One is a surprise to me:

Autodesk Inc. of San Rafael, Calif., will provide a standards-based interface and geospatial services, such as addresses, ZIP code and city/state information, to enhance location within the XOHM network.

I think that means the Autodesk Location Services platform will be available for developers. We’ve not heard much from Autodesk’s LBS corner for a while, so this is good news.

- press release

Clever marketing from “Navtec”

I was minding my own business doing some news searches this morning when a sponsored ad appeared next to my Google search.

Navtec? That’s not how you spell it! It’s now NAVTEQ but back in the day was NAVTECH. Must be some scammer playing on the name to get folks to buy their… Ooops. The link takes one to navigation.com, the URL NAVTEQ has for its map update store.

I’m so naive.