Telecompaper

Microsoft has unveiled a preview of its redesigned MSN home page. The new home page will deliver local information from the new MSN local information offering, MSN Local Edition. The MSN Local Edition is a local online source that combines media with Bing search and provides access to real-time community news that is grouped by ZIP code. The MSN home page includes enhanced Bing search technology. Bing is integrated as the core search service throughout the home page via key areas such as shopping, travel and local, and as a way of highlighting hot topics, trends or people. It also includes news and entertainment from sources such as MSNBC, Fox Sports, Hulu and Hearst, and local information. The social networks, such as Facebook, Twitter and Windows Live "What's New," which aggregates up to 50 Web activities, including Yelp, Flickr, and Pandora, are integrated onto the MSN home page. Users can preview the new home page at preview.msn.com. The new home page has started rolling out and will be available to the US customers early next year.