A new search engine for Microsoft

Microsoft (MSFT) may release its new search engine technology next week. There is no telling whether it will help stop the slide in the company's U.S. market share -- which is now about eight percent. Rival Google (GOOG) has nearly 70 percent of the market.

Even if the search product can rival Google's in terms of the relevance of results, it may not get Microsoft many new customers. The use of Google is now a habit for most people who use the internet and habits are hard for marketers to break.