VirtualWhere

VirtualWhere is a cloud‑based platform that provides real‑time virtual location services for augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) applications. Launched in 2018 by a consortium of geospatial technology firms, the service aggregates satellite imagery, street‑level photography, and user‑generated 3‑D models to create an up‑to‑date digital representation of physical spaces. Developers integrate VirtualWhere through an API that enables applications to retrieve georeferenced textures, terrain data, and point‑of‑interest metadata on demand.

The core of the system is a tiled map architecture that delivers data at variable resolutions, allowing low‑bandwidth devices to stream coarse imagery while high‑performance hardware receives detailed models. VirtualWhere supports dynamic updates, incorporating changes such as new construction or temporary events via crowdsourced contributions and satellite refresh cycles. Compatibility with major AR frameworks, including ARKit, ARCore, and Unity, makes it a common choice for navigation aids, location‑based games, and remote collaboration tools.

VirtualWhere’s business model combines subscription tiers for commercial developers with a free tier for academic and hobbyist use. By 2023 the platform reported integration with over 1,200 applications and an average of 45 million API calls per month. Critics have noted concerns about privacy and data licensing, prompting the company to adopt strict anonymization protocols and a transparent data‑use policy. Ongoing development focuses on improving indoor mapping capabilities and expanding support for mixed‑reality headsets.