Yahoo Adds IM Logs to Desktop Search

Yahoo is pulling together a confluence of search capabilities into its desktop search application. A new beta release of Yahoo Desktop Search now includes a feature that sifts through Yahoo Messenger instant message archives and adds Yahoo Address Book contacts to the search index.

Aside from the latest Yahoo integration points, the software searches for over 200 commonly used file types including Microsoft Office formats, PDF files, HTML, text, cached Web pages, ZIP files and many more. E-mail and attachments within Outlook or Outlook Express are also indexed. Like other desktop search products, results are available offline.

But unlike its competitors, Yahoo does not offer Desktop Search as a toolbar add-on for Windows. Rather, Yahoo has chosen to offers its users a full application with tabs for different file types and an automatic preview window.

Thus far, Yahoo has not integrated Web searches into results as competing vendors have done.

The company would not comment directly on why it has not grouped Web searches with its Desktop Search but Yahoo a spokesperson told BetaNews, "As they move along the way they are going to add more enhancements and features. Stayed tuned."

A message on the Yahoo Search blog is asking beta testers for feedback and suggestions to improve the product, which has been in development stages since December of 2004.

Yahoo is one contender in a deepening pool of vendors that are determined to establish themselves as leaders in the market for desktop search. Yahoo joins AOL, Ask Jeeves, Copernic, Google and MSN in efforts to develop solutions that index and search hard drives as quickly and efficiently as Internet queries.

The latest build of Yahoo! Desktop Search may be downloaded via FileForum.