UPDATE: Microsoft Live Search released with customer-driven features

Microsoft released a new version of the Microsoft Live Search software. Although the coverage of the application is mainly US and UK based, the software has some real cool options / features.Features of this latest version are based on customer feedback, as can be read on the Weblog of Jason Langridge.

Personally I think Microsoft does a real good job if they listen to the market and can translate the customer feedback into real nice features (normally it’s either feature release or just listening to customers and doing nothing). However this is a real nice product of Microsoft, which I saw in a live demonstration to look up a Mexican restaurant.

Although this was an earlier version than the Friday release, it’s a really handy application of you are highly mobile and your mobile device is the only connection to the outside world. However Microsoft is already beyond the step of just looking up places, and added the following features:

• Weather forecast (4 days) for the set / searched location;
• Extension of traffic information to more cities;
• Enhanced bluetooth headset support, in case of voice search or contact mapping;
• Search for community generated information. [ref01, 02, 03]

I hope that Microsoft plans to extend the coverage for other European countries, since I think it’s a great tool. One literally can search everything from the tip of your finger !! The new Microsoft Live Search update is freeware and also available for the Blackberry platform. Download the client from here, especially if you are living in the US or UK I wouldn’t leave without it.

Reference list:

1. Modaco: Microsoft adds new features to Windows Live Search
2. the::unwired
3. Jason Langridge weblog
4. Download Live Search for Mobile