Microsoft unveils desktop search rival to Google and Yahoo!

By Simon Aughton

Posted on 13 Dec 2004 at 18:46

Microsoft has unveiled beta version of a new MSN Toolbar Suite that lets users search all documents, media files and emails on their PCs at the same time as searching the Web.

In addition to providing comprehensive file searching, the updated toolbar also plugs into MSN's new search engine, which was itself released in beta form in early November.

'With MSN Toolbar Suite, consumers can now search their desktops from within the popular applications on their PCs,' said Yusuf Mehdi, corporate vice president for the MSN Information Services and Merchant Platform division at Microsoft. 'By delivering fast, precise answers with familiar technology, Microsoft is taking desktop information discovery to a new level.'

Google was the first of the major Internet search sites to release a desktop tool back in October while just last week Yahoo! released its version. This promises to be a significant battleground for the major players in search technology.

The new MSN Toolbar Suite beta includes an updated version of the MSN Toolbar for Internet Explorer and new toolbars that are accessible through Windows and Outlook and can be downloaded from beta.toolbar.msn.com.