IT Forum 2005: Microsoft scales its Desktop Search for the enterprise

By Alun Williams, Barcelona

Posted on 15 Nov 2005 at 11:12

Microsoft has extended its Desktop Search product for enterprise deployment. The program provides a means for users to find documents and files across their hard disk, network file shares or the Internet in a relatively seamless fashion, and can now be more easily rolled out across large scale organisations.

Windows Desktop Search, along with the associated MSN Search Toolbar, can now be deployed across organisations via Microsoft's Systems management Server 2003, or specialised third party tools, and can be extended to search additional document formats using IFilters and protocol handlers. It is integrated with the Office SharePoint Portal Server.

'These new enterprise-class enhancements to the desktop search capabilities will empower IT professionals to deliver higher productivity, lower IT management costs and greater ease of use throughout organizations,' said the corporate VP of MSN Search at Microsoft, Christopher Payne.

The tool is available for free with a purchase of a Windows licence. More info can be found on the company's website.

The Windows Desktop Search was first announced in beta form in December of last year in response to announcements from search rivals Yahoo! and Google.

In the future, Microsoft plans to integrate the increased search facilities with Windows Live services, the initiative Microsoft announced last month - Microsoft makes Live online service live.