Chilling

* I have made all the calculations necessary for our development and server setup, i.e. all we need to set up the service using existing packaged software products: 7,580,225 yen (72,000USD, or 38,500GBP)... I'm not sure what the others are going to make of this, but it's very expensive.

* Alps Co.'s map server software is the most expensive component at 4,200,000 yen (40,000USD). Next comes Oracle's database software at 1,311,200 yen (12,500USD). If we shave these two off and create our own, we're back down to a total of 2m yen (19k+ USD, which is within budget).
* Got to think this over in the morning, can't spend this much money, got to think of freeware/own-ware that can make us save money. Like Xindice and other stitch-em-up-ware. Can we get a basic map server anywhere for free, or do we really have to build one? If we can't find it then we'll have to build it. No two ways about it.