Sprint to upgrade Microsoft mobile search services
U.S. wireless carrier Sprint Nextel Corp <S.N> said on Monday it would offer a new Microsoft Corp <MSFT.O> Web and local business search application on its phones using a technology that pinpoints a caller's location.
Starting on Tuesday, the number-three U.S. wireless company will also offer customers a download of a new voice-recognition search product from Microsoft to allow users to find local businesses by simply speaking into a handset.
It is the first offering from a wireless carrier to use the speech technology and voice database Microsoft acquired when it bought Tellme Networks this year for about $800 million.
Sprint's upgraded offerings from Microsoft's Windows Live represent the next stage of their partnership to cash in on advertising from a budding mobile Internet search market.
