DaveBirchall.com on Business Technology

Microsoft reveals its search for answers – web – Technology – smh.com.au.

This week we have seen a major development in the world of online search as Microsoft lifted the lid on their 2 year secret squirrel project.

Despite the fact that there has been very little hype of lead up to the launch it seems to have become very big news in the media and the blogosphere.

The new search experience from Microsoft

Perhaps the reason behind the hype is not so much what it does but who is behind it. Its clear that Microsoft is taking a huge swipe at the Google incumbancy of online search and for good reason…

According to SMH the Australian search market alone is estimated to be worth around $800 million. Its probably worth noting that this is not the first time that our Redmond friends have had a stab at this. It’s not that long ago that Live search was called MSN after all.

So is this just a re-branding exercise or is there some innovation that MS is bring to our search experience.

Well actually its seems that this is a space worth watching after all. In search, relevancy is everything. The relevancy of the results that google returned, combined with a fresh brand and interface was a large part of why Yahoo got knocked off its perch not so long ago.

Microsoft claims that you can ask Bing a question and it will return an answer, but I have to admit that my experience of Bing so far has returned a page of links. The experience is really no different to Google.

More functionality is due down that track that will similar technology to mash-ups or aggregation sites so I think its a bit early to make a full assessment. On thing is for sure, if MS want us to start ‘binging’ things, they have one hell of a fight on their hands!

Like I say, watch this space.

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