People Search Digest

On Wednesday September 26, Microsoft announced a number of large and small changes to their search engine LiveSearch. Rumors are this is the most extensive overhaul since the engine’s launch in January 2005. Even if it’s not though, it’s a huge step for Microsoft who is currently the number three placeholder in the search engine race - following right behind Yahoo! in second, and Google in the gold-standard, number one slot.

The new improvements to the site are based around enhancing the areas that matter most to the 185 million customers who use the service every month. They are centered on the base search technology and deeper advancements in vertical search areas of entertainment, shopping, local and health. Microsoft is setting out to increase the index size by quadrupling its range of coverage, which will set a foundation that will allow LiveSearch to keep up with the growth of the web as a whole.

There will also be substantial improvements in how the engine understands query intent, which will yield better results by increasing the engine’s ability to read and understand queries despite common problems like spelling errors, punctuation, and synonyms. Another big change will be significant enhancements to core algorithms, which will give more relevant search results.

With the new web data extraction model, the core search innovation enables Microsoft to build rich vertical experiences on the fly. The results will constantly be updated with what’s happening on the web, especially in the categories Microsoft has deemed most popular. Feedback from users saying they often only search for just one fact or specific answer has led Microsoft to meet those needs by working on an expansion of rich answers; which will pull specific facts from trusted sources.

Overall, LiveSpace will have a new spiffy interface with results pages that are easier to read and navigate. A more robust answer platform will provide instant access from reliable sources, while maintaining an increased relevancy. With Microsoft making a huge effort to compete, it will be interesting to see if they can catch up with the mighty titan Google.