Microsoft is looking beyond Windows for technologies to fuel the future growth of the company.
Talking to financial analysts Bill Gates said search software, games, consumer goodies and lab research would all help Microsoft grow. During his speech Mr Gates showed off early versions of programs designed to compete with arch-rival Google. He said novel technologies had to fuel expansion because markets for other Microsoft products were saturated.
Strong competition
At its annual analyst meeting Microsoft unveiled a prototype of an MSN toolbar that works with the Internet Explorer browser. As well as letting people search the net, it also lets them query the documents, images, e-mails or spreadsheets stored on their PC. The add-on is squarely pitched at the efforts of Google and Lycos, standalone search software from firms such as Enfish and newcomers such as Blinkx. The toolbar is due to be released within 12 months. Microsoft has also unveiled a new version of its MSN search engine that it hopes will start to wean people off their reliance on Google.