Skype + Unype = Multi-User Google Earth

A very interesting “mashup” for Google Earth was recently released called Unype. Murat Aktihanoglu, the developer of Unype, contacted me by e-mail over a week ago, but I’ve been slow to write about it. This free application allows you to use Skype (the popular, and free, voice over IP, chatting, and video conferencing software) with Google Earth and you can both chat and share your Google Earth session with someone using the same programs on their end. For example, you and someone else can jointly plan a trip or show each other something cool in GE. Murat says that sharing models and even Avatars are coming soon. Someone has posted a good demo showing two laptops side by side running Unype, Skype, and GE:

In a way, this “mashup” could facilitate a kind of pseudo “virtual world” application if you add Avatars. But, it won’t make Google Earth into a Second Life.
I’m going to have to try this out using the SpaceNavigator to see if the program will smoothly show the same movements to someone on the other end.
It just occurred to me that this could be a great way to have someone else control a demo of Google Earth while you are giving a presentation, but where you could still have control as well. Thanks to Digital Urban for posting about the video.