UK search specialist Autonomy is joining the battle for searching on corporate desktops by launching IDOL Enterprise Desktop Search. Google and Microsoft have both announced desktop search engines in recent months.

Autonomy uses Active Folders which automatically update themselves with relevant information. The folders will collect information from anywhere within an enterprise. They can also check websites for updates and search for relevant news stories.

Ian Black, managing director of Autonomy division Aungate, told The Reg: "Existing systems rely on users remembering where they left stuff or uses keywords. Active Folders look all the time, they monitor what I'm doing and push relevant information."

Mike Lynch, chief executive of Autonomy, said: "IDOL Enterprise Desktop Search represents a fundamental change in the way users find and use information. By bringing together all the information at the heart of the enterprise, corporate networks, local information and critical external sources such as the web which users need to consult every day, we're providing a unique intelligent tool that works intuitively the way users do". ®

Related stories

Google shares fall on less-than-stellar growth fears
MS search engine rumours abound
Google launches desktop search for Windows PCs
Ask Jeeves if it's just bought Tukaroo