Microsoft Corp $1 billion 100 million next year at MSN search and business development

According to foreign media reports, two years ago, Microsoft Corp CEO Ballmer said publicly, in the network search engine behind Google is a mistake. On Thursday, Ballmer Microsoft for progress in the past two years in the development of the search engine are very satisfied, Ballmer also revealed that Microsoft will be in the 2007 fiscal year MSN business R & D investment of $1 billion 100 million, of which the search will become a priority among priorities".

2005 fiscal year, Microsoft MSN R & D costs only $500 million, this fiscal year to $700 million. Research and development costs increased dramatically, indicating that Microsoft hopes to catch up with Google in this field as soon as possible.

On Thursday, in an interview with The Associated Press, Ballmer said: "I want to tell people that over the past two years, we have made progress every year, even in two years has achieved more than two years. I feel very excited. Besides, we still have a lot of ideas to achieve. "

Ballmer said that Microsoft Corp in a relatively short period of time, in search engines and online advertising platform research and development has made very significant results, and Microsoft still has a lot of work needs to be done. In addition, Ballmer also admitted that he would rather start earlier search engine research and development work.

Two years ago, Ballmer said in an online advertising conference, Microsoft made a mistake in the search engine in the past few years, he was the most depressing thing. "

Although Microsoft step by step hot pursuit, but the competition is extremely cruel. According to the latest market research results released by Nelson, in March of this year, Google search market in the United States accounted for 49% of the share, Yahoo Corp is $22.5%, Microsoft's MSN is only $11%. Three market competitiveness is almost 4:2:1.

On Wednesday, Bill Gate, chairman of Microsoft Corp, praised Google at an online advertising conference, calling it "a great thing" in web search and advertising".