Microsoft "Checks In" to Health Search

Making a stronger push into the internet search arena, computer software giant Microsoft recently acquired health care search firm Medstory. The purchase reflects Microsoft's new direction in offering its own programs targeted specifically at the rapidly growing health care indsutry. Entering a market dominated by players such as WebMD and other specialized medical search engines, Microsoft hopes to capitalize on the growing health care focus in America, as well as to establish capabilities in an sector likely to see fierce competition from rivals Google and Yahoo.

The acquisition by Microsoft's relatively new Health Solutions Group follows the purchase last year of the Azyxxi patient-information system. The company now has more than 600 people working specifically on health care technology, up from a handful seven years ago.

To learn more about Microsoft's latest purchase, check out this article from the Seattle Post-Intelligencer.