This article was published on July 15, 2011

Microsoft accidentally unveils social search project, quickly pulls it offline


Microsoft accidentally unveils social search project, quickly pulls it offline

Microsoft today accidentally revealed a test version of a social search service it has codenamed Tulalip, Winrumors reports.

The site appeared at socl.com for a short time, a domain owned by Microsoft. It’s no wonder the project is still meant to be under wraps, as it commits many grammar and design sins, but it’s interesting to see that the company is trying its hand at social endeavors.

“With Tulalip, you can Find what you need and Share what you know easier than ever,” the website said in its short time on the web, and featured Facebook and Twitter sign-in options, making it clear that Microsoft isn’t looking to get involved in social networking itself but is rather building layers on top of other networks.

The codename, Tulalip, is in fact the name of a group of Native American tribes.

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The domain now carries the message, “Thanks for stopping by. Socl.com is an internal design project from a team in Microsoft Research which was mistakenly published to the web. We didn’t mean to, honest.”

Most Microsoft Research projects don’t see the light of day, and it’s unclear how serious the company is about this project.

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