Microsoft’s Live Search Starts Integrating Powerset Features

Thursday, September 18th, 2008 by Andy Beal

Microsoft’s Live Search Starts Integrating Powerset Features

I’ll admit, I expected it would take Microsoft a lot longer to start integrating Powerset’s search technology with Live Search–but the company is announcing the first of the new features.

Freebase Answers Integration

First-up, Live Search Answers will use Powerset to bring in results from Freebase Answers. Freebase looks to be a cross between Wikipedia and Google’s Knols.

Better Wikipedia Captions

I’d hardly call this exciting, but apparently some of the $200 million paid for Powerset will help Live Search better display Wikipedia results. [Yawn!]

Related Searches

"Related searches" have been around for eons. Still, Microsoft is excited to join the year 2008, with Powerset’s Factz.

Only a small, randomly selected audience will see the new features. If you’re not one of those chosen for the test, something tells me you won’t be heartbroken over it.

PS. Dear Microsoft, you need better screen-grabbing tools–the above images look awful!

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5 comments on “Microsoft’s Live Search Starts Integrating Powerset Features”

Utah SEO Pro Says:

September 18th, 2008 at 12:23 pm

If Microsoft tackles natural language they’re one step ahead of Google and Yahoo!. This may be a way for them to set their UVP.

Utah SEO Pro’s last blog post..Building an SEO Friendly Site – SES San Jose 2008 Presentation
Web Hosting Coupon Codes Says:

September 18th, 2008 at 9:45 pm

Live needs to starting stepping up their game to catch up to google and yahoo

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jamiekeaney Says:

September 19th, 2008 at 9:45 am

I didn’t like PowerSet and I’m not surprised MSN is the first engine to blend in its functionality. Why do I care about the architect of the Chrysler building? I’d rather have directions, hours of operation, nearby restaurants, it on a map, anything but when it was built. Who are they designing search for? 6th graders?
Stuart Robinson Says:

September 21st, 2008 at 12:02 am

Microsoft didn’t pay $200 million for Powerset. It was closer to $100 million:

http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/07/01/ok-now-its-done-microsoft-to-acqu ire-powerset/
Juicy Links: September 15 - September 19 : Exclusive Concepts Blog Says:

September 23rd, 2008 at 11:35 am

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