MSN Goes Local

MSN Search is playing catch-up (no change there we hear you cry) and has launched a local search option. The service, which is currently in beta, allows you to specify a location for your search and the results returned will be in the neighbourhood required e.g. pizza, new york returns a set of pizza restaurants in and around Manhatten. The results are accompanied by "informative maps and aerial images" according to MSN. Each result is shown as a numbered pin on a corresponding map provided through Microsoft MapPoint Web Service, and digital aerial images are supplied by TerraServer-USA when available for a given search result. The new MSN Local Search functionality is an evolution of the Near Me search feature that debuted on MSN Search in February.