Microsoft To Unveil SharePoint Search Server For Midmarket

Microsoft on Wednesday plans to formally introduce Microsoft Office SharePoint Server For Search 2007, a new offering for midsize firms and departments in large companies.

A subset of the upcoming SharePoint Server 2007, Office SharePoint Server For Search 2007 will give midmarket and departmental enterprise customers core search capabilities and the ability to search multiple repositories, including files and documents, Web sites, SharePoint sites, Microsoft Exchange and Lotus Notes.

Microsoft Chairman and Chief Software Architect Bill Gates is slated to unveil the new search offering during his keynote speech at the company's CEO Summit in Redmond, Wash. Gates also is expected to detail Microsoft’s multifaceted search assault against Google.

Microsoft aims to position SharePoint Server 2007 as the cornerstone for collaboration and search for modern information workers who need a robust search engine plus other tools to help them find corporate data assets. For example, Microsoft also plans an add-on Business Data Catalog for SharePoint that will enable users to search against structured, line-of-business applications such as SAP and Siebel.

As part of its integrated approach to serving consumer and business search needs, Microsoft plans to incorporate new enterprise search capabilities--including a technology called Superfetch--into its next-generation Windows Vista client and Office 2007. The Redmond-based company also plans a Windows Live Search service that gives end users a unified interface for searching content from the Internet, desktop PCs and corporate servers.In addition, Microsoft launched the Knowledge Network for Microsoft Office SharePoint Server 2007, which the company said automatically searches profiles and connects users with individuals associated with a project without violating their privacy. The service will automate the discovery of "undocumented knowledge and relationships," according to Microsoft.