Ikonos is the first commercial high-resolution satellite, and its photos can be ordered and purchased by anyone. Space Imaging was founded in late 1994 and is based in Denver, Colorado. Space Imaging already operates several other satellites, but Ikonos is a step up on the evolutionary ladder of staellite imagery. Ikonos' first images were taken of Washington D.C. and are available on their website HERE , take a look. The photos are taken from approximately 400 miles above the Earth's surface as the satellite travels at 4.5 miles per second.
Automobiles are clearly distinguishable, but people appear more as dots.
Space Imaging has a page with various photo resolutions to demonstrate Ikonos' abilities compared to what is already out there. Space Imaging does work for agriculture, mapping, state and local governments, oil and gas, utilities, emergency response, telecommunications, national security, insurance, and others. It is expected that Ikonos images will available to customers by the end of the year. SI distributes several different types of imagery and even software. There is also a great deal of technical data regarding Ikonos and Space Imaging in general that industry reps and astronomers would have a better time understanding, it is refreshing when a site presents so much information.