Microsoft Windows Live Search to be rebranded Kumo?

Word is going around that Microsoft may soon relaunch its Windows Live Search as "Kumo". CNET heard Microsoft is considering to rebrand its search engine again and since the software giant recently bought the domain "kumo.com" it's believed Kumo may be the new name of Microsoft's search engine. Kumo is a Japanese word, it means "cloud" or "spider", this definitely makes sense for a search engine and it sounds better than "Windows Live Search".

The rebranded site is expected to launch early next year, according to a TechCrunch report that cited a source within the company. Very few people in the company are privy to the chosen name of the new brand, and it could still change, TechCrunch said.

And while this doesn't mean that Microsoft is definitely going to adopt Kumo as its new search brand, taken together, it's pretty clear evidence that Microsoft has decided to focus on revitalizing its own search effort over its former ambitions for Yahoo's search business.