Search Space Acquisitions Are Hot Hot Hot

from the stop-me-before-I-buy-again! dept

Well, come on. Both Yahoo and Google announced small purchases in the last week, do you think Microsoft could resist? Late today they announced that they've bought Lookout Software to boost their search efforts. Lookout, which appears to just be two guys, has created a free plugin that makes searching through Outlook really fast apparently. With all the talk about Gmail search speed and clients like Bloomba with their search capabilities, it looks like they're beefing up that side of the business. As you might imagine this work could also be useful for a desktop search application to compete with the desktop search company AskJeeves bought last month or new entrants like the suddenly popular Blinkx (which is now being accused of doing some bad things). The two guys involved with Lookout are Silicon Valley vets. While the about page doesn't give much of a bio, I'm assuming (risky, I know) the Eric Hahn involved is the same Eric Hahn who was once CTO at Netscape. The other guy at Lookout is going to start working on MSN's search efforts. Maybe they did this so he can replace the guy who stole AltaVista's code.
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  • identicon
    John Doe, 16 Jul 2004 @ 1:50am

    Locutus

    Take a look at Locutus, it is a search/spam filtering app that is 100% .NET and 100% spyware free.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Matthew, 26 Jul 2004 @ 1:51pm

    Re: Search Space Acquisitions Are Hot Hot Hot

    The allegation made in the slashdot article referenced in this story is completely untrue. blinkx is completely devoid of any adware, spyware or pop ups - you can read our policy towards such software in www.blinkx.com/content/about.php.

    If you don't believe us - try it for yourself, rather than linking to an anonymous poster on slashdot spreading unfounded rumours.

    link to this | view in chronology ]


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