Microsoft goes Live with new search functions

Microsoft has updated its Live Search pages, offering a smoother user experience

Microsoft has today added a range of new features and services to its Live Search web service.

Called, by the firm, "the next generation of Live Search" the updates include a much more intuitive and responsive user interface and mapping and location-based services.

“With today’s new version of Live Search, we’re starting to redefine the search experience for our 10million users in the UK. We are building a product that will make every search as intuitive and rewarding as possible,” commented Cynthia Crossley, UK Director of Search for Microsoft in a launch statement.

“The days of clicking back and forth between pages of results until you stumble upon the right answer are over. The improved Live Search product marries ease of use with a much improved ‘back end’ infrastructure meaning that we’re able to deliver more insightful, richer search results as well as improved local relevance through Multimap and Mobile Live Search.”

The amount of images displayed as the result of a search has been increased, meaning that all results are displayed on one page, while local searches have been boosted through the use of links to Multimap's mapping tools.

A new location based search for mobile users has also been launched. Called "Find My Location", this can pinpoint the user on a map and advise them on business services in that area, the firm said.