(3 May 2006 5:00 pm)

MUMBAI: Microsoft Corp. has snatched the Amazon.com account from Google. The internet retailer will now be using the Microsoft technology Windows Live to power its toolbar and the A9 online search engine.

Confirming the development to Reuters, A9 CEO David Tennenhouse said Google search was removed from the site on 30 April, following the expiration of that contract. He added that Windows Live presented a very powerful web search option that had previously been featured on the A9 site.

Microsoft launched Windows Live to win online advertising pie away from Google and Yahoo. Amazon's search engine A9 breaks down searches into various categories such as web searches, book searches and blog searches.