Microsoft Set to Unveil Desktop Search, MOOLMicrosoft Set to Unveil Desktop Search, MOOL

Microsoft on Monday morning will likely debut a beta version of its desktop search and unveil a new connection service to tie Hotmail and the Outlook mail client.

According to Betanews.com, Microsoft will introduce Microsoft Office Outlook Live, dubbed "MOOL," Monday. MOOL, which will be available as a separate subscription service from MSN, lets users synchronize Hotmail's (and MSN's) Web-based e-mail, calendar, addresses, and to-do lists with those in the Outlook client.

In preparation for the launch, Microsoft posted a Flash demonstration of MOOL on its Web site.

Microsoft's also expected to unveil its long-awaited desktop search tool Monday. Although rival Google beat the Redmond, Wash.-based developer to the punch by rolling out its own Google Desktop Search two months ago, Microsoft has promised that its Web-desktop search tool would be available before the end of 2004.

Last week, Yahoo announced that its desktop search application would release in January 2005.