[OSM-talk] Truth about media hype in Microsoft lending big support and big dollars to OSM ?

[Pieren]

Hi all,

Since the release of this PCWorld article:
http://www.pcworld.com/article/252649/microsofts_secret_weapon_against_google_maps_open_source.html

we have a "media hype" (or media excitement ?) about Microsoft
investing "big dollars" in OSM. This was repeated in the TheVerge
article (http://www.theverge.com/2012/3/27/2906212/microsoft-openstreetmap-google-maps-competitor)
and next in many, many other blogs/media/press around the world.

Where is the truth here ? Is the "big support and big money" the
access of Bing aerial imagery ? Is that all ? Who much does it cost to
Microsoft to allow its aerial imagery usage in OSM ?
I don't find any answer/facts to these simple questions but many speculations.

Pieren