I can't find any urls at msn.com but here's the story http://www.microsoft-watch.com/article2/0,1995,1739864,00.asp and http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2002117398_btbriefs13.html MSN and Yahoo just keep chasing after G, but I guess competition (when it becomes that) is usually good for an industry.
I was speaking to an MS tech the other day and she was telling me that MSN is allowing their employee's to beta test the new MSN messenger which has the new MSN beta search tool at the bottom of the new beta MSN messenger. This will also increase traffic from MSN searches. I was also told there are some other new tools coming out in the very near future that will also better the beta msn search engine, for what it is worth.
IMO Google's reputation is too strong for people to start switching to MSN too quickly but they can actually take a big bite but from Yahoo very fast and some of the Goolge users as well. Messenger, Outlook, Office products, future version of IE, etc. The MSN's searchbox will be right there looking at you all the time. And this is a HUGE advantage for MSN and a very big threat to Google.