MSN Goes Local
June 22nd, 2005
MSN Search is playing catch-up (no change there we hear you cry) and has launched a local search option. The service, which is currently in beta, allows you to specify a location for your search and the results returned will be in the neighbourhood required e.g. pizza, new york returns a set of pizza restaurants in and around Manhatten.
The results are accompanied by “informative maps and aerial images” according to MSN. Each result is shown as a numbered pin on a corresponding map provided through Microsoft MapPoint Web Service, and digital aerial images are supplied by TerraServer-USA when available for a given search result.
The new MSN Local Search functionality is an evolution of the Near Me search feature that debuted on MSN Search in February.
There is very little to distinguish MSN Local Search from similar offerings on Google and Yahoo! - it even looks the same. It’s surprisingly hard to get a result though. We tried to find a bagel restaurant in Miami (this TechSmec.com reporter remembers great one from his childhood), but no joy. Expanding the search to restaurants got the answer “no results for Restaurant in Miami”. Lots of home catering going on in Florida obviously. MSN Local Search has a little way to go yet.
Entry Filed under: Online Life
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