Australian IT - MSN fires up search engine (Lara Sinclair, JULY 29, 2004)

Australian IT - MSN fires up search engine (Lara Sinclair, JULY 29, 2004) MSN fires up search engine Lara Sinclair JULY 29, 2004 MICROSOFT'S internet arm MSN is investing $US5 billion ($7 billion) to create a search revolution where users will be able to pose questions and receive real answers - all without leaving the comfort of the MSN web site and the reach of its advertisers. MSN global senior director of strategy Christa Davies said the company wanted its search service to be able to locate music and images of individual faces, among other things, and provide answers to questions on the MSN site. It may then, for instance, offer to sell a download of a new single or video clip. Microsoft's new search engine is set to launch in some form before the end of the year, increasing its global access to the fast-growing search advertising dollar in competition with Google, the Yahoo-owned paid search provider Overture and the recently launched Sensis search service in Australia.