The bar keeps getting raised each time any activity is announced in the search kingdom. It was Microsoft Corp's turn on Monday to fire the latest salvo in the quest for the search treasure.
The Redmond-based software giant has announced an improved version of its search wherein results are delivered to the user depending on his/her location. The MSN Local Search will debut as a beta. Besides providing geographically targeted search results about businesses and other local information, the local search software will also provide online street and aerial maps that would accurately pinpoint the search. The maps are a part of the Microsoft MapPoint Web Service.
Christopher Payne, corporate vice president for MSN Search at Microsoft, said, "We are deeply investing in developing world-leading local search services that precisely deliver the local information consumers care about. We remain committed to continuously improving our search service, and today's MSN Local Search beta release is just the beginning.
With the addition of MSN Virtual Earth, we are poised to take local search to the next level." He was referring to the fact that Microsoft has integrated the Virtual Earth team with the MSN Search team. Bill Gates had already promised this last month. Over the last decade the Virtual Earth team has been mapping the surface of the Earth using data from the TerraServer satellite project.
Commenting on the potential of the local search, Erik Jorgensen, general manager of MSN Local Search and Maps, said, "We're still in the early stages of local search. There's still a lot we can do to improve and further innovate." But the Virtual Earth project sounds suspiciously similar to the Google Earth project, which will apparently allow users to view animated maps.
The local search idea is seen as having big potential since small businesses who cannot afford huge advertising costs can now be listed in the search engines. Also a user can narrow down the search for local entities pretty easily by using this method.
The MSN Local Search is expected to be available as a beta from late Monday onwards at http://search.msn.com
