Microsoft expands Live Search Books, signs up publishers

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Microsoft is set to expand its Live Search Books with the announce that the company has signed up major publishers who will make their titles available online.

It hopes that the new content will enable it to grab some of the book search market which Google pioneered when it unveiled its Print service, since renamed to Google Book Search, in 2004. Microsoft took two years to respond, launching its book search in December 2006 as part of the "Live" makeover of its online services.

In addition to the new content, Microsoft has added a counter that tells readers how many pages are left within the number of pages they are permitted to view plus tools to improve keyword searching within books. The preview pane will now have a cover image, table of contents and a summary of the book and Microsoft will also provide links to websites where books can be bought.

Earlier this year Microsoft attacked Google for its "weak" record when it comes to protecting copyright. Google for its part allows any publisher that does not want its books included to opt-out.

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