Windows Live Local adds live traffic reports

Windows Live Local adds live traffic reports

Software giants Microsoft have launched an updated version of their Windows Live Local service and it now includes live traffic reports.

The new update also makes it easier for the web user to share maps and information with one another.

Microsoft also expanded the scope of this service to now include data from UK and Canada. More new countries would be added in the coming months.

The aim is to challenge Google and Yahoo! who are also present in this market of online services. The larger goal is to snatch away a bigger share of the large pie of online advertisement, which is expected to generate billions of dollars in revenues in the coming years.

MSN also wants more users to their search engine services to take away market share from both Google and Yahoo! who are the dominating players in this segment.

The company also released a Windows Live Local add-in for its Office Outlook e-mail and scheduling software. This add-on allows the users to automatically schedule driving time into the calendar and send links with mapping information. They can also find and print maps as well as directions from inside Microsoft Outlook now.