Updated: June 2005 Overview The new MSN Search makes Web searches more useful by providing consumers with improved access to information and more precise answers to their questions. MSN Search (launched with partner technology in 1998) is currently among the top three search portals in the United States and worldwide.1 MSN released the final version of its improved MSN Search service in February, which is now available in 25 markets and 10 languages worldwide.2 The service, which features a Microsoft-built search engine, moves the field of search beyond its current limited offerings to deliver more-precise answers and provide consumers with more control over their search experience. Better, More Relevant Results MSN has listened to consumers throughout the development process and invested heavily in creating a state-of-the-art search engine to serve as the foundation for MSN Search. The new MSN Search delivers the information consumers are looking for online faster through a combination of up-to-date resources and search tools that make it possible for consumers to tailor their search to their needs, including these: | • | Vast index of information | • | Consumers can quickly and easily find the most relevant information with MSN Search, which offers one of the largest, most up-to-date indexes of Web documents reported today. | | • | To help consumers quickly get to the information they are looking for, MSN Search offers the ability to search for specific types of information using search tabs, including Web, news, images, music, desktop, local and Microsoft® Encarta®. |
| | • | Up-to-date information | • | The MSN Search index, much of which is updated weekly or even daily, provides the most relevant, timely and accurate data as quickly as possible, while minimizing frustrating dead links. |
| | • | Instant answers from Microsoft Encarta | • | Using MSN Search, for many topics a consumer can type in a question and receive an authoritative, direct answer provided by Encarta, the No. 1 best-selling encyclopedia brand.3 | | • | MSN Search customers in select markets can now view Encarta Premium encyclopedia articles and associated media free of charge for any two-hour session. | | • | Encarta can provide more than 1.5 million answers delivered in-line with other MSN Search results, including fact-based answers such as definitions, fact lookup, calculations, conversions and solutions to equations, as well as information on historical and popular figures.4 Sample types of searches include the following, among many others: | • | “Who was the vice president for George Washington?” | | • | “What is seven times twenty?” | | • | “Who is LeBron James?” | | • | “How many calories are there in carrots?” | | • | “How many inches in a mile?” |
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| | • | Instant answers from MSN Music | • | Using MSN Search, consumers can type in the name of an artist, song or album and receive results from MSN Music. One click allows consumers to sample the music; a second click lets them purchase and download.5 |
| | • | Image search | • | The current image index includes hundreds of millions of high-quality images. By using the images tab, consumers can effortlessly find a photo they are looking for. | | • | By default, MSN Search filters out most explicit images. |
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More Control for Consumers Microsoft Corp. designed MSN Search to overcome the “one size fits all” approach offered by other search engines. New tools built into MSN Search help consumers better target and refine their searches for more precise results in the following ways: | • | Using the Search Builder tool, consumers can customize search results by emphasizing or deemphasizing certain search criteria, such as specific site or domain, country or region, or language. Consumers can visit a menu of adjustable onscreen dials for each criterion, which can be reset when consumers’ criteria change. A consumer who needs current facts and figures can adjust the dial to emphasize the most updated results; a consumer who is looking for the official Web site of a favorite television program can adjust the dial to emphasize the most popular results. | | • | Using the local search feature, currently in beta in the United States, consumers will receive city- and region-specific White Pages and Yellow Pages directory information that relates to their search query. For example, a local search on “auto mechanics” could bring up listings of nearby mechanics, repair shops and towing companies. In addition, each local result is shown as a numbered pin on an accompanying map provided through Microsoft MapPoint® Web Service, and digital satellite images are supplied by TerraServer-USA when available for a given search result. |
Availability The new MSN Search is available today via local URLs in 25 markets — including Austria, Australia, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Germany, France, Finland, India, Italy, Malaysia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Singapore, Spain, South Africa, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom — and 10 languages and in the United States at http://www.msn.com. 1 Nielsen//NetRatings, March 2004 2 MSN Search features vary by market. 3 NPDTechWorldSM, March 1993–March 2004. Based on total U.S. retail sales.
4Access to Microsoft Encarta content varies by market. 5 Search Near Me feature is currently only available in the United States Microsoft, MSN, Encarta and MapPoint are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corp. in the United States and/or other countries. The names of actual companies and products mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners. |
