Microsoft is hell bent on toppling Google and Yahoo!, today officially launching its new search engine, Live Search, which aims to command a greater share of online advertising with new features including a cleaner user interface, image and video search as well as a live QnA function.
Live Search (www.live.com) will replace MSN Search, which is currently the third-ranked search engine, behind Google and Yahoo!
The revamped search engine launches today after months of tests as a beta version and is now available in 47 markets worldwide, including Australia.
Localised versions, Live Local Search, are also being rolled out in the US and UK.
The new user interface allows users to customise their search experience—they can create multiple pages based on their interests and add their favourite content from millions of sources of information.
Live Search also allows a single search to deliver results across various categories – web pages, images, videos, news, maps, and RSS feeds – while suggesting related links.
Another new feature is a scratch pad where users can store their images and information, while the Live QnA function enables users to ask questions from a community of real people.
“The launch of Live Search is a significant milestone for our services business, with our core search and monetisation platform ready for prime time for MSN and Windows Live as well as for partners through syndication deals,” Christopher Payne, corporate vice president of Live Search at Microsoft, said.
“This is just the beginning. We look forward to continued investment in search to deliver services that bring new levels of control and personalisation to the web experience.”
