Vendor pushed first online software services live.
Microsoft has released the first official version of its Live Search and Live Local Search as well as the live.com homepage.
The Live.com website provides users with a customizable home page where they can chose from numerous information items such as local weather forecast, news headlines, recent email messages or utilities such as an anti virus security scan.
The new Live Search and Live Local Search technology replaces the search technology that currently powers Microsoft's MSN Search engine.
"We now have the base to weave search through our services in ways that bring value to customers," said Christopher Payne, Microsoft's corporate vice president of Live Search.
The services are the first of Microsoft's Live Software services to leave the beta stage. The software vendor kicked off its Live Software initiative last November in an attempt to beef up its online presence and shield off competition from Google.
Several other Live services remain in beta, including Windows Live Academic Search, Windows Live Messenger and Windows Live QnA.