REDMOND, Wash., and WELLESLEY, Mass., July 8, 1999 — Microsoft Corp. and Direct Hit, provider of the award-winning Popularity Engine TM , today announced that Microsoft has incorporated links to Direct Hit’s popularity-based search results into MSN TM Search on MSN.com. Direct Hit provides the most popular results by analyzing millions of previous Web searches and prioritizing the links that consumers use most. With the addition of Direct Hit, consumers using MSN Search will now find the most popular links at their fingertips. With the addition of MSN to its list of premier providers, Direct Hit now reaches more than
30 million unique searchers daily.
“Direct Hit’s popularity-based search results make MSN Search even easier to use,”
said Rob Bennett, group product manager for the Consumer and Commerce Group at Microsoft.
“The combination of MSN Search technology and premier providers like Direct Hit gives consumers the search experience they are seeking on the Web through relevant and accurate sites.”
The addition of Direct Hit’s popularity-based and related search tools helps provide even more relevant results for consumers and makes MSN Search one of the premier search destinations on the Internet. Consumers can use Direct Hit when they perform a search on MSN by simply clicking on the
“Get the Most Popular Results”
link on the search results page. Direct Hit also displays
“Related Searches,”
which enable users of MSN Search to explore their topic in more detail by easily broadening or refining their search.
“We’re delighted that Microsoft chose to add Direct Hit to MSN Search,”
said Mike Cassidy, chief executive officer of Direct Hit.
“We’re excited to enhance the search experience available to the millions of consumers who use MSN.com each month.”
About MSN
MSN is the network of Internet services from Microsoft that helps people better organize the Web around what’s important to them. The network of MSN services, located on the Web at MSN.com ( http://MSN.com/ ), helps people easily stay in touch with friends and colleagues, make smart and secure purchasing decisions, and get more done. MSN offers award-winning e-mail functionality; personal communications services; wireless services information; customizable access to news; popular sites for travel, investing, automotive services, shopping and more; an online community; a Web search engine and directories; and top-rated Internet access.
About Direct Hit
Founded in 1998 and privately held, Direct Hit provides the world’s most relevant Internet search results. Direct Hit currently has business relationships with MSN, the online service of Microsoft; HotBot, a service of Wired Digital; Lycos Inc.; ICQ Inc., a division of America Online Inc.; LookSmart Inc., the Internet’s leading category-based Web directory; ZDNet, the leading Internet news, information and entertainment site; Infoseek Express, the browser-based metasearch engine; Scandinavia Online, the largest online service in Scandinavia; and Apple Computer Inc., makers of the innovative search tool Sherlock. Winner of the 1998 MIT $50,000 Best New Technology Competition, Direct Hit is funded by Draper Fisher
Jurvetson and Mosaic Venture Partners. Direct Hit is headquartered in Wellesley, Mass., and can be found on the Internet at http://www.directhit.com/ .
About Microsoft
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq
“MSFT”
) is the worldwide leader in software for personal computers. The company offers a wide range of products and services for business and personal use, each designed with the mission of making it easier and more enjoyable for people to take advantage of the full power of personal computing every day.
Microsoft and MSN are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corp. in the United States and/or other countries.
Other product and company names herein may be trademarks of their respective owners.
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