Remember way back when, Microsoft's Longhorn was going to integrate search into everything? Microsoft Labs were working on Implicit Query, which turned search into an always on app that offered queries based on the context of what you were working on. Blinkx also offered this capability.
Well, Longhorn has long since been tamed into Vista, and it now looks like Microsoft's dream of integrated search will be rolled out in bits and pieces on the Windows Live platform. Email will be the first app that will feature search integration, and constant delivery of sponsored search ads based on the context of your emails.
Two things that are worth watching about this.
First of all, deep integration seems to be Microsoft's best bet for increasing market share, so it will be interesting to see how aggressively they pursue this strategy.
Secondly, just how annoying will a search pane be that is constantly showing sponsored search ads based on the content of your emails?