Microsoft unveils MSN Toolbar Suite

Google is not alone in this new wave of desktop search tools, and although programs such as Copernic have been available for a long time, lately these have been getting a lot more attention than before. We recently reported on Yahoo's plans to integrate various of its online services into its own desktop search tool, allowing users to search e-mail and files from their hard drives (similar to what Google currently offers on its beta tool).

Today, the software giant showed it's not far from its potential competitors when it launched a beta version of the MSN Toolbar Suite which is composed of three major applications: MSN Toolbar for Microsoft Office Outlook, the MSN Deskbar in the Windows taskbar, and an MSN Toolbar that works in both Windows Explorer and Internet Explorer.

Microsoft claims its tools have an edge over competitors' because they integrate into popular Windows applications.