Microsoft to Invest in Search Technology Centre for Europe

Microsoft has never remained content with throwing challenges to its rivals in the race for market share. It uses all means like advertisements and upgrades to win as many customers as possible. It opened up its cards on plans to capture Live Search market share in Europe by announcing setting up of a separate search Technology Centre for Europe.The centre will be identical to the one Microsoft opened in Beijing three years ago. While details of location of the Centre and the cost of investment are not yet disclosed, the likely date of opening is the beginning of fiscal year 2009.

Many observers term this announcement as a move to counter the ill-effects of agreement reached between rivals Google and Yahoo in the recent weeks. Yahoo had rejected Microsoft’s offer for the search advertising business and instead struck a deal with Google.

Kevin Johnson, Microsoft’s president of platforms and services, is very clear about the company’s objective behind the Search technology Centre in Europe. He states that Microsoft’s online assets and strengths in display have lent it 68 per reach to Internet users throughout Europe. It intends to broaden it further.

Kevin Johnson is expecting to double Microsoft’s long-term investments with the setting up of new Search Technology Centre.