Microsoft upgrades Live Search Mobile
December 20, 2007
Live Search will feature 1-click directions for all businesses and street addresses
Even as news surfaced that Google yet again gained a larger share of searches, arch-rival Microsoft Corp. has made several content upgrades to its local search function for mobile devices, Live Search Mobile.
The changes include blended-search results that are more granular and user-friendly.
“Not only is Microsoft trying to compete with Google and Yahoo here, but it’s trying to compete with any comers into mobile,” said Neil Strother, mobile analyst at JupiterResearch, New York.
“They are pulling all of their assets together and it’s clear that advertising is a huge growth component for them,” he said.
The Live Search Mobile changes include:
• Additional details for U.S. businesses, including neighborhood, business category, cuisine (restaurants) and hours of operation
• Photos and reviews for U.S. businesses
• Improved movie show times Instant Answers and also display of critics’ ratings
• Added interactivity to all maps (clicking on maps now zooms in/out to predefined levels, or advanced to the next waypoint for routing maps)
• Traffic and map Instant Answers
• 1-click directions for all businesses and street addresses in the United States
• Mobile search for the China market. Scopes offered are local (no maps, but coming soon), Web, images, news and Spaces.
“Yahoo and Google are already offering mobile users blended search results, so it’s no surprise that Microsoft has become more feature rich as well.
“This mobile initiative is just another sign that Microsoft is set to move into the advertising world and I’m not surprised that Microsoft is moving in and shaking things up,” Mr. Strother said.