MS to launch online store

Software giant Microsoft is planning to launch an online store to sell its Windows-compatible products, AP reports.

The Windows Marketplace will be a shopping and downloading site, where users can buy hardware and software for use with Microsoft`s operating system. However, purchases will not be direct, but rather the site will provide customer reviews and other information about computers, software and other gadgets, and links to online merchants - such as Circuit City or Best Buy - where the consumer can make purchases.

The company will also promote the site on its Windows XP start menu.

Internet users are starting to use alternatives to Microsoft, following a number of flaws discovered in Internet Explorer (IE), BBC reports.

The number of IE users dropped by 1% in the past four weeks, according to US analyst WebSideStory. The move could indicate that users are taking the advice of security experts to try out other Web browsers, although 90% of people still use IE.

Last month, Internet users were told to avoid using IE because of a loophole that could allow malicious hackers to take control of a computer. The warnings appear to have been heeded, with statistics from WebSideStory suggesting that millions of people are switching to alternative browsers.

A software development team plans to unveil a Web search system with a business database covering 30 million companies worldwide.

According to Reuters, the team is backed by former Compaq Computer chief Eckhard Pfeiffer and China`s official English language Web site, ChinaDaily.com.cn. The system, Acoona, will mathematically calculate links between search terms and words with similar meaning in order to increase the likelihood of finding relevant results.

Unlike traditional search engines, which rely on matching searches to keywords in a database, Acoona uses artificial intelligence software that can be trained to locate related information. The system is due to be launched on Thursday.