We've just announced a new version of the Live Search application for BlackBerry devices. This one's been re-designed from the ground up with a completely new UI, simple network detection, GPS integration and a lot more!

Download it by pointing your BlackBerry browser to:

http://wls.live.com

Please read the FAQ if you experience trouble downloading or using the application at:

http://wls-beta.members.winisp.net/bbfaq.htm

Of course, since we've re-done the app, we haven't taken the Beta tag off...yet. =) We'd love to hear your feedback before we do so, at:

lsmobile@microsoft.com.

You can find out more about the app HERE.


** Updated: version 2.0.3048.13898 (May '08) **

Live Search for BlackBerry Beta (BlackBerry OS 4.1 or later)

What is Live Search for BlackBerry?
Live Search for BlackBerry is the essential mobile companion – it is an application you can install on your BlackBerry phone that makes it easy to search for business, get driving directions, view maps with up-the-minute traffic information and much more when you’re on the go.

What’s New?

The new version of Live Search for BlackBerry has the following new features:
• Contact Integration. Save a search result to your contacts for quick access later.
• Mail to a Friend. Send a text message with search result details to a friend.
• Speech Recognition (for GSM devices with BlackBerry OS 4.2 and later). No need to type – for yellow page listings, just say what you want to find!
• Web Search. Initiate a web search from within the application just by clicking the ‘Web’ icon to get results from various other scopes, e.g. Web, News, Images, and more.
• Weather. Get current weather conditions and a 4-day forecast for your current location.
• Improved Searching. Speak or type an address into the main search box – try saying “One Microsoft Way Redmond Washington” or your home address.
• Increased Traffic Coverage. Up-to-minute traffic info for more cities, e.g. Dallas, Indianapolis, and more.

Same As It Ever Was…

• Local Search. Search yellow and white page listings near you.
• Driving Directions. After finding a business, get directions to your destination.
• Maps. Smooth panning/zooming experience with maps optimized for readability and efficient use of your data connection.
• Traffic. View maps with up-to-the minute traffic information.
• GPS Integration. Track your progress along a route by clicking Menu > Center On GPS when you’re viewing the route on a map.
• Movie Showtimes. Quickly browse movie show times near you organized by movie or by theater.

We want your feedback!
Please send all feedback, suggestions, bugs, and questions to lsmobile@microsoft.com.

Happy Searching!
-- The Live Search for mobile Team

Wirelessly posted (9900: BlackBerry8800/4.2.1 Profile/MIDP-2.0 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/102)

Like the simple UI. Will give it a test run on results. Looks like traffic is easy enuff.

Just downloaded the program and see two problems. First it only seems to work with BT GPS and second, searches seem to be based on major cities only.

Working with my internal GPS just great. I like it so far. Best movie access I can see. Maps load fast and zoom works well. Would like a shortcut for zoom. Traffic is easy to find.

To use GPS choose Enter New Location. Also it remembers recent locations.

I get invalid cod 907 when i download with wifi browser or blackberry browser. Trying a soft reset to see if i can get it.

Will give it a go, thanks.

Nice clean app! Only one MAJOR flaw.... it doesn't find ANY of the 4 Starbucks in my town

Of course, I already know where they all are (and they know me by name), but man, if it can't find a Starbucks.... I dunno if I can keep it....

EDIT: Oh sure, as soon as I complain about it, and try it again, it works. Sheesh!

I do like this application, though. Any thoughts to being able to search Canada, too?

On my 8700g, when viewing a map and pressing the alt+scroll it will not move sideways. I can only go up and down.

Thanks for the love, all! We're glad you like the app

For the few hiccups that folks are experiencing:

1.) The app is designed to run with the internal GPS on 8800. You need to set this in the app options. If you still have trouble with this, do let us know.
2.) You can select any city by hitting Menu>Enter New Location or selecting Near: Enter New Location... and entering the location of choice.

Wish granted! You can use I/O for zooming In/Out

Can you try again after removing the battery restarting the phone? We've seen this issue before and doing the above seems to fix it.

Phew! I'm glad it found the Starbucks. It finds every single one in Seattle ;)
We'll be sending love to Canada sometime soon, but no timelines yet.

Hmm, strange. It works on our device. Can you try this on other screens to see if the alt button is working ok? Meanwhile, you can press Menu>Pan Left/Right to change the pan action.

Thanks again!
The Live Search for Mobile Team

I like it. Dare I say like it better than Google Maps in it's current iteration?

Hey I like this app so far, very nice features.

I am using it today traveling around town, I'll report back.

Installed it..initial impressions:

1. Using the directions feature -
Why can't I just enter an address?

I only get a choice of:
Search
Choose City
Choose On Map

And, if I do a search, having just entered an entire address in, and for whatever reason, there is no connection, it blanks out my last search.

2. Searching by category - "trade Shows, expositions, fairs" - I expected a sort of "whats going on around my town", instead I get companies who handle this category

3. On the map - where in the world do I enter a location?
Zoom
Aerial View (this is a nice option!)
Show Traffic
are my only options.

That is all for now...

Certainly looks promising.

I have pulled my battery 5 times throughout the day. Tried all browsers.

Rebooted my bes server twice. MDS is functioning properly

Running T-Mobile 8320 - 4.2.2.175

You work for Microsoft?

Looks very cool!

Its not working for me either. I get the same error code 907, tried it 3 times and did the battery pull too. No go! Any ideas?

You actually can enter an address just like any thing else in the text entry field. The remainder of the links launch a city chooser and a map selector.

The rest of the feedback is incredibly valuable. We'll try to fix some of them soon

This is rather upsetting :(. Are all of you using a BlackBerry Curve?

That's what I posted on my GPS site this am as soon as I saw it. It will compete with them.

Movies clearly better.
Traffic easy.
GPS worked great for me all day.
Business finder - still testing.
Loads Fast
Great icon for home screen
Directions - well like GMM but won't replace my Telenav anytime soon.

For all of you using this hitting the trackball calls up zoom in maps. I like the zoom feature with the crosshairs.