Microsoft overhauls search engine
      Posted Sat, 03 Jul 2004
      Microsoft is revamping its internet search operation and preparing to
      launch its own search engine later this year to compete directly with
      Google and Yahoo.
      The immediate change will be a "cleaner look" for its MSN Search page that
      separates paid and unpaid search results and provides direct links to
      Microsoft's encyclopaedia service.
      This is the first step in a $100-million upgrade of the program, which
      will include a new Microsoft-owned search engine later this year.
      Up to now, industry analysts say, Microsoft's search uses the underlying
      engine developed by Yahoo and its Overture service.
      Microsoft said it released a test version of its upcoming algorithmic
      search engine "to gather feedback from webmasters and search enthusiasts".

      This will be launched, along with "a range of other search services,"
      within the year.
      "With this significant upgrade to MSN Search, we are delighted to now
      offer what we believe is the best search service available for the 350
      million MSN customers," said Yusuf Mehdi, corporate vice president of the
      MSN division.
      "Among the many improvements, we're particularly excited to increase the
      relevancy of many search query results by up to 45 percent. This massive
      investment kicks off a wave of innovation from MSN that will move search
      beyond its current, limited offering to delivering the next-generation
      search experience."
      The move puts the world's largest software company in direct competition
      with search leader Google, which is in the process of launching a stock
      offering, and Yahoo, which has moved away from using Google for its
      underlying search technology.
      Based on the Google model, searching has become a profitable enterprise on
      the internet by targeting advertising to surfers based on the keywords
      they use for the search, often in the form of "sponsored" or paid
      listings.
      Thus, users searching for sporting goods might get, in addition to the
      standard search results, paid listings for sporting goods sellers.
      AFP