Dassault launches 3D online imaging software

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French software company Dassault Systemes has launched 3DVIA, a platform that will enable users to access, share and collaborate on three-dimensional services online.

Dassault Systemes is the software development offshoot of aviation and defence company Dassault Group, and counts to its name users and development partners including planemaker Boeing, carmaker Toyota and Microsoft. The company specialises in software 3D design, aerospace supply chain and product lifecycle management.

"3D must be used by all and for all," said chairman and chief executive Bernard Charles, speaking on the sidelines of a technology conference the company is holding this week.

The 3D services, the first of which will be accessible on the 3dvia.com site in autumn, will allow users in online communities to create objects in 3D, upload and share them.

"We want to do the 3D Flickr," he said, referring to the popular online photo-sharing site owned by Yahoo.

A first professional community called 3DVIA SupplierSource will connect designers and suppliers.

"SupplierSource is trying to give more time back to the designer's extremely busy schedule, by providing an easy-to-use, service that helps designers find new suppliers, organise existing lists of suppliers, and manage the RFQ process, we can simplify part of the engineer's job", said Jim Foster, director for SupplierSource at Dassault Systemes.

Services to professionals will be through subscription but services to consumers will be free and funded by advertising.

Charles said 3DVIA had significant potential but it was premature to quantify it. "We estimate that from 2008 this investment should practically not be dilutive anymore," he said.

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