Microsoft Is Readying Windows Live Academic Search and Windows Live Product Search

According to latest reports, Microsoft is about to extend its new lineup of Live services with Windows Live Academic Search and Windows Live Product Search, which will aid the Redmond company to offer users an attractive package.

eWeek writes that Windows Live Academic Search is Microsoft's response to Google's Scholar, which can be used to find and access academic essays and articles.

According to LiveSide, users will have the following options:

- Abstract: Allows the user to view an abstract for the article or resource in a preview pane that appears to the right of the search results;
- Full text: Allows the user to view the complete article, so long as it is not being hosted on a subscription or restricted access website;
- Subscription text: Allows the user to view the complete article, as long as they have a valid subscription account to view the content;
- Citations (MSN/CiteSeer): View articles and resources in the MSN/CitiSeer index that cite the search result. These can be exported in a variety of formats, including standard text, RIS and BibTeX;
- Find closest library: See if the article or book is available in a library near you;
- BL Direct - Allows the user to purchase the article electronically using the British Library.

LiveSide also notes that this service will also benefit from the "Richness Silder" option, which controls the amount of information displayed on the result page.

Academic Search is expected in summer, at first only in beta.

The second product coming from Microsoft is Windows Live Product Search, which will be competing with Google's Froogle. This service will allow users to compare prices and products and will be able to filter results after category, price, brand, seller and certain keywords.