Live Search for Windows Mobile Gets Updated

Speaking of Live Services, we'd actually heard this was in the pipeline way back during CTIA 2008, and now it's here: a new update to the excellent Live Search App. Go grab it now at http://wls.live.com.

WLS already offered excellent local search, maps, driving directions, traffic info, gas prices, and movie times. Now we see that the new update adds:

  • weather (finally!)
  • Web search
  • a little section called “collections” that you can basically think of as saved searches combined with a mini-rss reader.
  • We also hear that it's fully compatible with Windows Mobile 6.1, for the handful of you out there who've managed to snag a Touch Dual at Best Buy.
  • Bluetooth headset support for spoken searches
  • You can delete recent locations (i.e., the following is a thing of the past: “What's that hon? Oh, see, I was just driving by that strip club when I was looking for the nearest taco stand. Honest!”)

Did we mention that WLS is excellent? It's Bill & Ted excellent, free and a must-install for every Windows Mobile device, bar none.

WC Staff
9 Comments
  • Doesn't work too well on my Touch Cruise. It doesn't want to start when the program is launched. The process is running, but no app.
  • Just downloaded to my 700WX (VZW) and I'm not seeing any of the new features mentioned.
  • Me neither. When I fired up the old version on My Motorola Q, the "Client Upgrade Available" option was greyed out, but I went to wls.live.com and redownloaded and reinstalled anyways. No luck, still running v2.5.29, and no weather or categories.
  • Same here with my Sprint 700wx. Perhaps the WM6 version is the only one to get the new features. I tried to install the WM6 cab on my device, but the install failed. The error message said something about the .NET Compact Framework version being too old.
  • Try upgrading your .NET CF to 3.x which ships in WM6 ROMS. You probably have 2.x or lower. link: http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=e3821449-3c6b-42f1-9fd9-0041345b3385&displaylang=en
  • UPDATE: (From MS WLS Blog) It appears you only need .NETCF 2.x. If you have sprint treo 700wx you will get this auto-install if you run the "Get On Demand" link in programs. In either case for VZW or SPC just follow this:
    1. Download and install .NET CF2 from this site: [URL="http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=aea55f2f-07b5-4...">[COLOR=#0000ff]http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=aea55f2f-07b5-4.... (Note: this is a desktop installer, not over-the-air.)
    2. Install the Windows Mobile 6 version of Live Search. To go this, go to wls.live.com from your phone, then scroll down the page and click the "all versions" link. Then, click the Windows Mobile 6 download link.
    Either way, please let us know how it went by sending mail to http://lsmobile@microsoft.com.
  • My Net CF is 2.0 and the new live search was the same version as the one I have been using on my 700wx. Maybe it wont install on a wm5 device at all.
  • I didn't have any luck with installing it to my htc ppc 6800 running mobile 6.0 and the updated net frame works 2. All I keep getting is the following error message on install installation was unsuccessful. The program or setting cannot be installed because it is not digitally signed with a trusted certificate Way to go Microsoft
  • WTF how do I get the old version back on my HTC ? i can't use the upgraded version.