ALK Technologies today announced that customers of its award-winning CoPilot Live mobile phone navigation system will be able to benefit from an integral connection to Microsoft's Live Search API.

Simply key-in a search query into a free-text input box, for example 'bank', 'coffee' or a favoured brand, and a list of the matches closest to the current location is displayed. It's a significant enhancement to CoPilot's on- board address and points of interest search, providing access to a huge variety of dynamic real-time information.

CoPilot Live sends queries to Microsoft's Live Search API via the mobile Internet, providing navigation users with instant access to a vast quantity of location-specific information. Search results provide details of nearby businesses, shops, restaurants, and leisure facilities, which can be previewed and added to an itinerary for spoken and on-screen turn guidance. The system will also be capable of displaying community-generated reviews and rankings, helping users make an informed selection.