Closing the Cover on Microsoft Book Scanning

Chris_Keene writes "The Live Search blog announces that the Live.com Book and Academic Search are to close. Book search in particular has had quite a bit of coverage, and often seemed like a race with Google. The Live blog says 'we are winding down our digitization initiatives, including our library scanning and our in-copyright book programs. We recognize that this decision comes as disappointing news to our partners, the publishing and academic communities, and Live Search users [...] this past Wednesday we announced our strategy to focus on verticals with high commercial intent, such as travel, and offer users cash back on their purchases from our advertisers.'"

Comments

Standard Policy

[Drenaran]

Actually, this is right on track with Microsoft's established business practice. Start doing something that the public supports and that their customers desire, hype it up, achieve good will, and then give up half way in and drop all support for it (and if possible pretend it never existed).