It looks to be all out war. Microsoft has announced the launch date for a test version of desktop search software to rival Google"s beta search application released earlier this month. Microsoft said it plans to launch the software, which can be used to find files on PC hard drives, before the end of the year. And, BBC online reports the program could be based on the software Microsoft owns following its acquisition of Lookout Software earlier this month. Making the announcement, John Connors, Microsoft"s chief financial officer said: "We"re going to have a heck of a great race in search between Google, Microsoft and Yahoo.
"It"s going to be really fun to follow." Google"s beta desktop search software currently allows users to search websites previously viewed in Internet Explorer, email sent or received in Outlook or Outlook Express, AOL Instant Messenger chats, plain text files and Microsoft Office documents. On Google"s application Joe Wilcox at Jupiter Research was quoted by the AP news agency: "Google essentially is blurring the informational divide between desktop and web information, which is a smart approach that should concern Microsoft.