MSN Launches New Search Toolbar

Allows users to find and retrieve documents, e-mail, images and video on their Windows-based personal computers.

MSN, today announced the launch of the new MSN Search Toolbar with Windows desktop search, a suite of tools that helps people search across the web or their pc and provides access to MSN services.

According to the company, the final version of the MSN Search Toolbar includes free enhancements for Windows 2000 and Windows XP customers. It allows users to find and retrieve documents, e-mail, images, video and more on their Windows-based personal computers. The software also includes features like privacy protection, one-step searches and interfaces, customization, Pop-up blocker, form fill, and feature that color-codes search keywords on a results page and helps people locate the information they want via thumbnail windows.

Additionally, it will introduce an integrated tabbed browsing feature, providing one-click access to people's favorite sites in the same window. The MSN Search Toolbar is currently available for download in English in the United States and global availability is planned for later this year.
"By offering the most integrated desktop search capabilities for Windows, now people can search their PC as fast as they can search the Web. The new MSN Search Toolbar makes it easy for customers to find precisely what they're looking for, no matter where it resides," said Yusuf Mehdi, senior vice president for the MSN Information Services & Merchant Platform division at Microsoft.

Microsoft also announced that it is developing a desktop search offering, built on Windows Desktop Search, for the corporate environment and scheduled to be available in beta by the end of this year.