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Could it be? Have we just lost one of the three valuable directories (Yahoo, DMOZ and bCentral) - recommended by many when launching a new site?

It appears Microsoft has shutdown its Microsoft Small Business Center, including the bCentral directory. Users trying to sign-up from this page, are greeted with the closure announcement.

As of November 15, 2006 Microsoft will no longer accept new sign-ups for select Microsoft Online Small Business Services.

These services, previously marketed under the bCentral brand, include Appointment Manager, Banner Network Ads, Commerce Manager, Customer Manager, FastCounter Pro, List Builder, Sales Leads, SharePoint, Submit it!, Traffic Builder, and Web Hosting Packages.

While the services appear to be re-branding as Microsoft Office Live, the new site has no mention of a directory. Yikes!

Hat-tip to Matt McGee for the discovery.

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Andy Beal is an internet marketing consultant and considered one of the world's most respected and interactive search engine marketing experts. Andy has worked with many Fortune 1000 companies such as Motorola, CitiFinancial, Lowes, Alaska Air, DeWALT, NBC and Experian.

You can read his internet marketing blog at Marketing Pilgrim and reach him at andy.beal@gmail.com.