New mobile version of Windows Live makes Web searches and messaging easy
Windows Live is the brand name of a group of Microsoft online services, which include Hotmail, Messenger, Search, Maps, and more. The beta version appeared on Microsoft's site late last November, and it was officially announced earlier this year. Windows Live features have been incorporated into many of the new Windows Mobile 6 devices. This article looks at two of the most important features: Windows Live Search and Windows Live Messenger.
Windows Live Search
You're on a dark road devoid of street signs, and you're running out of gas. You're hopelessly lost and its looking like you'll never make it to your brothers house warming. You could call 411 and ask them for directions to a gas station near that intersection you passed ten minutes ago and add another couple bucks to your wireless bill. Or, you could whip out your trusty Smartphone, plug Gas Station into a search field and Map Location into the location field, and boom; you've got a map showing you the way to the nearest station. You get your gas and make it to the party on time. Best of all, your wife thinks you're the coolest thing since James Bond, instead of the directionally disabled fellow that you really are.
Windows Live Search has a simple, user-friendly interface (top) and allows you to quickly find addresses, phone numbers, directions, and maps (bottom).
What is this new service, how do you get it, and more importantly, what's it going to cost?
Its called Live Search for mobile, its available from Microsoft now, and its free! (http://mobile.search.live.com/client/wm_handsets.aspx) It also may come pre-installed on WM6 devices. Unfortunately, Live Search is only officially available in the U.S. and U.K. at the moment. This may be extended soon, as Microsoft is constantly updating their POI data. Should you wish to search in other locations, however, a manual search might pull up maps of other places.
Once installed on your Windows Mobile device, the application accesses the Live Search server to offer a range of services, including a phone number/address search, a location search (for the nearest restaurants, gas stations, etc.), maps, and directions.
The program communicates with the WLS server through the Internet, so you must be connected. Due to the compression algorithm it uses, it can download business addresses, phone numbers, directions, maps, and other information fairly quickly, although there are other applications that are faster at this. Live Search, however, has its advantages. Its standout features are:
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