MSN Forms Search Focus Group

Microsoft Corp. is quickening its march into search by setting up an advisory group of industry insiders to preview its search-engine plans and research.

Microsoft’s Internet division has invited dozens of Webloggers, researchers and others to its Redmond, Wash., campus next week for an event called “Search Champs.” They are scheduled to hear about and test upcoming features for MSN Search and to meet researchers from Microsoft Research, according to several people invited to participate.