LiveSide - News blog : EMEA

Live Search in Europe: Microsoft announces plans to open a Search Technology Center

Gregor — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 23:15:00 GMT

Microsoft today announced plans at the Cannes Lions International Advertising Festival to invest in Live Search in Europe. A new Search Technology Center will open sometime during the next twelve months in Europe. The location of the facility has yet to be determined. A smaller number of engineers is expected to be contributing off-site to the STC from multiple countries, possibly including, for example the UK, France and Germany.

While the press release quotes Kevin Johnson, president of the Platforms and Services Division, in saying that

"today Microsoft has 68 percent reach to Internet user throughout Europe"

it is clear that the move comes to disrupt Google's dominant position in the European search and advertisement market.

The center is modeled after the Search Technology Center that was opened in Beijing,China in October 2005. While working closely with the global Live Search organization the focus is on delivering locally relevant, more intelligent and powerful search experience - something that is still missing for European Live Search customers that currently only have access to the basic Live Search functionality. Many of the Live Search features that are available in the U.S. have yet to make their appearance in Europe - including the recently release Live Search cashback program or the Live Search Farecast functionality.

Microsoft and Dassault Systemes announce 3DVia - again

Kip Kniskern — Fri, 19 Oct 2007 13:09:00 GMT

In a press release dated October 18, Microsoft and Dassault Systemes formally announced the launch of 3DVia:

REDMOND, Wash., and PARIS — Oct. 18, 2007 — Dassault Systèmes (DS), a world leader in 3-D and product life-cycle management (PLM) solutions, and Microsoft Corp. today launched Microsoft^® Virtual Earth™ -3DVIA (Technology Preview). This free online application, developed by Dassault Systèmes, allows consumers to imagine and create realistic 3-D models — such as of buildings and structures — then share them through Microsoft Virtual Earth and online communities.

The new, free, online application actually has been live since Tuesday the 16th, where it was also referred to in the press release announcing the final updates to the fall Live Search release, for Live Search Maps:

Innovative visualization and 3-D. Coverage of bird’s-eye and 3-D imagery has been increased to cover 80 percent of the U.S. population. In addition, nearly 200 complete cities are available in 3-D, and customers can now combine views of 3-D imagery with Live Search’s unique 45-degree bird’s-eye images, giving a complete and detailed geolocation experience. In addition, people who use Live Search Maps can create and share their own 3-D models of buildings through an alliance with Dassault Systemes.

Anyway, you can get to 3DVia (after first installing Virtual Earth 3D beta, by clicking on 3D on the Live Maps, and then Add a 3D Model from the Collections tab:

From there you install the app, and then you're on your own. I've been playing a bit with 3DVia, but although the interface is pretty easy to get around, it takes both patience and practice, neither of which I have time for right now. Ultimately the idea is to create 3D models by placing them in Virtual Earth 3D, saving them, and then sharing them as collections. Pretty neat, with a lot of potential.

MSN is coming to Russia

Harrison Hoffman — Wed, 04 Jul 2007 02:44:00 GMT

Kommersant.com announced yesterday that MSN will be taking aim at yet another market. This time, they are focused on Russia. According to the article, the content for MSN Russia will be provided by Kommersant, Reuters, and the AP. Geoff Sutton, MSN General Manager for Europe, the Middle East, and Africa said that they expect MSN Russia to be the fourth largest player in Russia's advertising market within a few years. I am actually surprised that MSN has waited this long to venture into Russia with their portal. Russia is a big market and they have been actively pursuing it with ventures in Windows Live. As you may remember, back in July of last year, Windows Live launched a Russian promotional site. Also, Windows Live Mail is being offered in Russian, so that shows a commitment already to this market.

I think it's going to be really interesting to see how Russia takes to MSN and where they stand over there a couple of years from now. If they hit it big over there, it could be a huge score for MSN and maybe we'll see them start to expand to even more markets like this over time.