ALK Technologies has integrated the Microsoft Live Search API into its CoPilot Live mobile phone navigation system.

Users can 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.

The company says this is 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.

Michael Kornhauser, Managing Director and Vice President of ALK Technologies said "CoPilot is the original connected navigation system - we were the first to integrate real-time mobile Internet services as standard with our CoPilot Live location tracking service. The search experience made possible by the Live Search API is a great extension of our navigation-based mobile Internet services, which provide our customers with the relevant up to date information they need, when they need it."