WebProNews

Microsoft's Live.com is getting major upgrades (very slow right now) via Scobelizer and more details including RSS feed search over at Read/Write Web.

According to seattlepi.com:

"Although still in test form, Windows Live Search signals the future direction of the company's efforts in the market. It's slated to eventually replace the MSN Search service that debuted last year, when Microsoft set out on its own in a bid to make up ground in the search business."

CNET News.com had an interview with Yusuf Mehdi, senior vice president of MSN information services who says Microsoft has closed the gap with Yahoo and is "within a couple of points of Google." That's a pretty bold claim which reminds me of an old adage, "Don't tell me, show me."

Microsoft also announced their acquisition of Onfolio, which has been integrated with the Windows Live Toolbar.

"The new Onfolio Add-in for the Windows Live Toolbar beta will give people convenient ways to collect information online and organize it on their PCs. People can harness this information by saving it onto their computer so that it can be easily accessed for use in documents, e-mail messages and blog postings."

I'm all for making search better and it's great to see Microsoft making this kind of effort. Whether it advances Microsoft Search to the level of Yahoo or Google, remains to be seen.

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Lee Odden is President and Founder of
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