[windows2000] Microsoft Launches Web Search Technology
- From: "Jim Kenzig http://thethin.net" <jimkenz@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: thin@xxxxxxxxxxxxx, windows2000@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Thu, 11 Nov 2004 10:08:53 -0800 (PST)
Microsoft Launches Web Search Technology
1 hour, 57 minutes ago
By ALLISON LINN, AP Business Writer
SEATTLE - Microsoft Corp. finally debuted its own Web search technology on
Thursday, hoping to challenge Google Inc.'s long dominance of the field with
results tailored to a user's location and answers from its Encarta
encyclopedia.
Google signaled that it is ready for a fight, announcing Wednesday that it
would nearly double the amount of Web pages available to search through its
site.
The Microsoft search engine, offered in 11 languages, will initially be
available on a special "test" site. Gradually, some users visiting Microsoft's
MSN site may find that the existing search bar uses the new search engine, said
Adam Sohn, a director with the company's online division. But a full rollout,
perhaps with new features, isn't expected until early next year.
Redmond-based Microsoft has long offered a search engine on its MSN Web site,
but the technology behind was powered by subsidiaries of Yahoo Inc.
(Nasdaq:YHOO - news)
Earlier this year, company executives conceded that they had erred by not
developing their own search technology and said they had devoted $100 million
in an aggressive catch-up effort. The company also pledged to clearly separate
paid search results from those based purely on the relevancy. That's something
its previous search engine hadn't done but that the new technology will do.
Microsoft also plans to offer by year's end a test version of its hotly
anticipated technology for quickly locating e-mail, Web pages and other files
on desktop computers. Google launched a similar product last month.
Hoping to steal some of Microsoft's thunder, Google nearly doubled the size of
its search engine index to more than 8 billion Web pages Wednesday evening. A
Google spokesman downplayed the Microsoft connection, saying the Mountain
View-based company had been working on the expansion for months. Google last
expanded its Web index to 4.3 billion pages in February when another rival,
Yahoo Inc., unveiled a search engine powered by its own in-house technology.
Microsoft says its site will sort through more than 5 billion Web pages.
Analysts say that just because Microsoft is a late entrant doesn't mean it
won't pose a formidable threat to Google, Yahoo and others.
Microsoft's search offering has many features likely to appeal to users who
don't care about particular brands, according to Charlene Li of Forrester
Research.
A feature called "Search Near Me" guesses where users are located based on
their Internet connections and seeks to provide results nearby. Another feature
promises to answer plain-language questions such as "What is the capital of
Germany?" by culling through Encarta.
Google also offers a localized search function, with users telling the search
engine where they are. And it has a "Google Answers" site, where researchers
provide data for a minimum fee of $2.50. Microsoft's version is free but not as
tailored.
Li also said Microsoft has another advantage in that many users already visit
its MSN Web site and are familiar with other products such as its dominant
Windows operating system or Hotmail e-mail.
In trading Wednesday on the Nasdaq Stock Market, Microsoft shares closed 4
cents at $29.73, while Google shares lost 84 cents to $167.86 and Yahoo shares
finished off 37 cents at $36.66.
___
On the Net:
http://beta.search.msn.com
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