CoPilot integrates Microsoft Live Search

The popular CoPilot Live 7 navigation software from ALK has become an automatic install on whatever compatible handheld we happen to be using. Reliable, accurate and easy to use, it's our favourite sat-nav software.

ALK has recently added a new feature to CoPilot — Microsoft’s Live Search. This lets you query Microsoft’s points of interest (POI) database from within CoPilot Live, return finds and then add one or more to your itinerary.

A natural-language search feature allows you to enter, for example, the word 'coffee' if you're after a caffeine fix, or 'bank' if it's cash you require. And in a bid to make the service more than just a listing of resources, the software will show user-generated reviews and rankings.

The query is carried out using your handheld's existing mobile internet capability, so the appropriate data charges will apply. It will be available as a free download for existing customers and will ship as standard with CoPilot Live 7 from the second quarter of 2008.

Versions of CoPilot Live 7 for Windows Mobile, Symbian S60 and UIQ will all be supported, but not earlier versions of CoPilot Live.