MSN search launched

[ceesil]

After months of testing and years of planning, Microsoft has finally launched its Web search service and stopped using Yahoo on its main portal pages.Microsoft has run the service on a trial basis for a number of months but it has now launched the final version.

What do you all now think will be the affect of this on the Top Rival Google ?

[kevin]

Redesigned MSN.com Web site that features an upgraded search engine - a move that coincidentally fell on the same day rival Google Inc. posted impressive earnings.

MSN new web site now boasts a search engine with news headlines, music downloads, and even a feature that looks for files on a user's own computer. The Redmond, Wash.-based software giant - which had been working on the redesign for the better part of a year - has been criticized for falling behind rivals in search capabilities.

The timing of the launch might be a subtle warning for Google, which released impressive fourth-quarter profit after the closing bell. The Mountain View, Calif.-based Google now lays claim to being the most-used search engine on the Internet, and its products are being duplicated by competitors such as Microsoft and Yahoo Inc.

Shares of Google fell $3.72 to close at $191.90, but surged $18.45, or 9.6 percent in after-hours trading, to $210.35. Microsoft shares rose 11 cents to $26.39, but fell 1 cent to $26.38 in recent after-hours trading. Yahoo shares fell 46 cents to close at $34.75, then rose 60 cents to $35.35 in recent extended-hours trading. All trade on the Nasdaq.

[ceesil]

Both the giants are fighting out.Let us see who wins it finally as all are out with their products in the market.

[derry]

Frankly, I was expecting something different from Microsoft. Not that I'm complaining