Microsoft keeps the Live fires burning

Microsoft isn't sitting around waiting for its Yahoo acquisition to get the nod. It is continuing to roll out new Windows Live and Live Search technologies and programs.

Here are just a few of the Live-related announcements from the past few days that caught my eye:

Microsoft tweaks its Live Search algorithm. Microsoft is admitting that its Live Search engine left a bit to be desired, in terms of crawling sites. It sounds like the fall Live Search update might have resulted in the de-indexing of a number of sites (perhaps including the infamous -- and now seemingly dormant "Shipping Seven" blog). Microsoft didn't wait for the next Live Search update (codenamed "Rome") to fix the problem; it has tweaked its algorithm. (And "Shipping Seven" is now being indexed, for what it's worth....)

Microsoft officially rolls out its Windows Live developer program for mobile. Microsoft has been emphasizing mobile operating systems as key platforms for its own Live services. Now it is recruiting third-party software, hardware and mobile-operator developers to develop mobile services, as well. Before they are granted access to the program, developers need to sign non-disclosure agreements and a development agreement that "is non-negotiable and contains the minimum acceptable terms from Microsoft," according to a slide-deck describing the program. Confusingly, the new program's official name seems to be the "MSN Mobile Developer Program."

Microsoft considers Iowa for future datacenter. The Iowa House last week approved a set of incentives designed to convince Microsoft to locate one of its next datacenters in that state. According to reports, Microsoft is mulling several states as candidates for its next datacenter home.