Microsoft Tabs Local Search For MSN

The software company deepens the search capabilities of its MSN portal by offering local search.

A beta version of Local Search released on MSN will allow users to retrieve local business, residence, or web site results. Those results can be accompanied by maps or satellite images as well.

When a MSN user starts a query from the search box on the main MSN page, a list of results appears as normal. At the top of the page, a new button that reads Near Me will now appear next to the search box. Clicking that will retrieve local results if available; also, the Local menu will be available next to the search box.

The new Local search has evolved from the Near Me functionality present in MSN search since February. Users can go directly to MSN search by visiting search.msn.com, where options for the Local search will be listed.

To further enhance MSN search, Microsoft announced that the Virtual Earth team will be joining the search team. They will be able to provide the mapping and geo-location experience needed to enhance local search results.

"We are deeply investing in developing world-leading local search services that precisely deliver the local information consumers care about," said Christopher Payne, corporate vice president for MSN Search at Microsoft Corp.

"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."

Those local search results will be culled from local White and Yellow Pages directories. Each local query will retrieve a map along with the results. On that map, each local result will be shown as a numbered pin. When available, aerial images from Microsoft's TerraServer project will be displayed.

Source: webpronews.com/insidesearch/insidesearch/wpn-56-20050621MicrosoftTabsLocalSearchForMSN.html