MSN Search
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MSN Search is a search engine by Microsoft that comprises of a search engine, index, and crawler. This offers one the ability to search for specific types of information using search tabs that include Web, news, images, music, desktop, local and Microsoft Encarta. MSN Search aims to make its over 2.5 billion worldwide queries each month “more useful by providing consumers with improved access to information and more precise answers to their questions.” A configuration menu is available to change the default search engine in Explorer, but the selection is sometimes criticized as being limited, and a custom URL cannot be entered without installing an add-on.
In the past the service relied on different search engine companies as sources, such as Inktomi. Since then Microsoft upgraded MSN Search to provide its own Microsoft-built search engine results (list of web addresses with samples of content that meet a user's query), the index of which is updated weekly or even daily. The upgrade started as a beta program in November 2004 (based on several years of research), and came out of beta in February 2005. MSN Search's search engine index now includes more than 5 billion documents, 400 million images, and 3 million instant answers. The service has also recently changed its look and started providing its search results to other search engine portals in an effort to better compete in the market.
Major Competitors
External links
System applications: MSN Explorer | Windows Live Messenger | MSN Toolbar | MSN TV
Other: MSN Mobile | MSN Chat | MSN Encarta | MSN adCenter
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