Microsoft And InfoNow Join Forces

Ever use a site’s “find a store” feature?  It may have been provided by InfoNow, the company with which Microsoft joined up earlier today.  According to an official statement, InfoNow intends to “integrate Microsoft Virtual Earth within its LocationInsight offering.”

Don’t let loose the confetti - the deal is, for the time being, as much of a PR boost as anything.  Greg Sterling of Sterling Market Intelligence told the Search Engine Land.  “But Microsoft acknowledged to me that this was in the roadmap.  In addition to Live Search, this has potential implications for Microsoft’s TellMe voice search unit as well.”

Indeed, this relationship could become extremely beneficial for both parties.  Even as it stands, the name-recognition value of InfoNow (within certain circles) is not to be underestimated; its customers include