By: Loren Baker | Source: searchenginejournal.com

The Question & Answer human powered search alternative has expanded beyond Yahoo Answers & Google and has now found a home with Microsoft’s Windows Live QnA. Windows Live has opened QnA up to the public for BETA testing and is looking for feedback on its product. Betsy Aoki posts on the MSN Search Weblog:

For all of you still new to our question-and-answer service, we will be providing more blog posts here to help guide you through the features, but here’s a quick roundup of what you will see with the Windows Live QnA beta:

* A smooth interface that enables you to ask, answer and vote on a question.
* A free-form “tagging” system that allows you to attach your own keywords and phrases to your question to make it more discoverable by other users. With QnA, you tell us what the question is about, not the other way around!
* Integration with Windows Live Spaces via modules that show off questions you’ve asked and questions you’ve answered.
* See your score constantly increase on the Superstars page and earn reputation stars for consistently giving great answers.
* Windows Live Messenger “gleams” that show when you and your buddies have participated in QnA.
* Email notification that someone has answered your question, or when others have voted on a best answer, via MSN Alerts.
* Ability to subscribe to a customer, question or site search via RSS.
* Message boards that let you get support information, discussions with other people, and contact with the QnA team. You can’t chat or discuss things in Windows Live QnA without breaking the format… so instead, go to our message boards.

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