Microsoft has set a firmer date for the release of its desktop search software, after Google launched a test version of its rival program for scouring a PC's hard drive.
During its earnings call with financial analysts, Microsoft said an MSN-branded tool would be made available before the end of 2004. The tool and an algorithmic Web searching engine will be in beta testing by year's end, a representative said on Friday.
"In terms of search, we should see some good MSN search technology in this calendar year, probably late the second half," John Connors, Microsoft's chief financial officer, said in the conference call. "We're going to have a heck of a great race in search between Google, Microsoft and Yahoo. It's going to be really fun to follow."
Google beat Microsoft to the punch last week, when it introduced Google Desktop Search, a Windows program that indexes a computer's hard drive to quickly search inside documents and email. Yahoo executives have said the company plans a desktop search tool as well.
Microsoft first demonstrated the technology for its own desktop search tool at a financial analysts' conference in July. At the time, MSN executive Yusuf Mehdi would say only that it would be out before the release of Longhorn, the next version of Windows, scheduled for 2006.
Yahoo and Microsoft have been making acquisitions to boost their capabilities in this area. In July, Microsoft bought Lookout Software, which has a program for searching within Outlook email. Yahoo acquired Oddpost in July and said this week that it would buy Stata Labs.
Google has emerged as a key rival to Microsoft. In addition to the battle over search, the company is seen as a potentially broader competitor in several areas, including the market for Web browsing and instant messaging.
Google also confirmed this week that it is opening an office in Kirkland, Wash., a Seattle suburb not far from Microsoft's Redmond headquarters.
CNET News.com's Stefanie Olsen contributed to this report.
Talkback
Let's look at this in a slightly wider context.
Microsoft is feeling a very real and tangible squeeze from the likes of Firefox, Google and increasingly Linux. Added to that, it's next product release is delayed by an order of years.
So what do you do...?
Simple really - get anything that is nearly ready out the door quick before significant market share is lost.
Now look again at the wording of the press release , they want us to think of this as a multi horse race - get behind your favourite, bet, vote whatever - "We're going to have a heck of a great race in search between Google, Microsoft and Yahoo. It's going to be really fun to follow"
All this, and all they've given us is a likely date! Won't this race be over by the time Microsoft find the start line?
Trouble is, I trust Google to make a tool that'll index my hard drive and not tell them everything that's on it. On the other hand, Microsoft are known for their desire to know about everything on your PC. I remember when MSN launched it used to tell MS about all the programs you had installed. Just what anyone wants
Isn't it about time Microsoft had an ORIGINAL idea of their own. Besides which everything they release comes with BUGS as standard so who wants it. Plus Google are already street ahead with this idea. And guess what it works!!! Now thats innovation.
Tania
They'll have a bug ridden BETA version out by the end of the year. Which means middle of next year. The MS dork got one thing right though when he said it'll be fun to follow--as usual MS are following the real innovators.
Is Microsoft going to reinvent Explorer with really usable full text search functionality?