REDMOND, Wash., May 7 -- Microsoft Corp. today announced updates to its Photosynth technology that enable commercial use through integration with Microsoft Virtual Earth. The Photosynth integration into Virtual Earth signifies the first release designed to enable businesses to use Photosynth in commercial applications.

Photosynth software analyzes digital photographs and generates a 3-D model by "stitching" the photos together. These models, or "synths," can now be viewed using Silverlight technology acr......