The formerly-named MSN Book Search appears to have a new name to go along with its online debut.
And like many Microsoft products, the name leans more toward Faulkner than Hemingway: Windows Live Search Books Publisher Program. Beta.
The reader-side site will be called Windows Live Books when it launches, so at least the masses get an easier name to remember. Publishers who wish to opt-in to the program may submit a book list to Microsoft and send along the books.
Then, Microsoft will scan and index them, and make them available to users of Windows Live Search. A FAQ at the Publisher site provided more details:
Windows Live Books is Microsoft’s forthcoming online search service for books. The service will give information seekers a distinctive, powerful set of tools for finding answers to their questions through the discovery of trusted book content-and provide publishers with a new way to connect with potential customers.
As a special offer, Microsoft will send a Windows Live Books Timbuk2 messenger bag to those who submit 2 or more books by July 31, 2006. We aren’t sure just how motivational that will be for a publisher, but the Timbuk2 bags are pretty cool.
Currently the program will only accept books printed in English that have an ISBN assigned to them. Books in other languages will be stored for future use.
They do plan to accept books in digital format in the future. Additional answers on the Publisher program may be found online.
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David Utter is a staff writer for murdok covering technology and business.