科技英语新闻:Microsoft buys video search engine VideoSurf

SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. 22 (Xinhua) -- Microsoft announced on Tuesday that it has acquired video search engine VideoSurf.

In a press release, Microsoft said it will integrate VideoSurf' s technology across its entertainment platform to augment the Xbox 360 ecosystem and evolve search and discovery of entertainment content on Xbox LIVE.

Details of the deal were not disclosed. Technology news site TechCrunch cited Israeli business newspaper Calcalist as saying that the company was bought for about 70 million U.S. dollars.

The San Mateo, California-based company, founded by four Israelis in 2006, offers a technology that "sees" frames inside videos to make discovering content fast, easy and accurate.

Since its founding, VideoSurf has raised 28 million dollars from several sources, including Facebook chief operating officer Sheryl Sandberg and her husband, as well as former U.S. vice president Al Gore.

Last month, Microsoft announced that it will bring cable television content to its Xbox video game console over the holiday season, expanding the console into an entertainment hub.

The software giant said Tuesday that the latest acquisition will make it easier for world-class video partners to take full advantage of advanced search features.