Direct Hit, which list results according to popularity rankings, will now be available to more than 30 million Netizens. The rankings are created by analyzing millions of previous Web searches.

"The combination of MSN Search technology and premier providers like Direct Hit gives consumers the search experience they are seeking on the Web through relevant and accurate sites," said Rob Bennett, Microsoft's group product manager for the consumer and commerce group.

"Lycos.com is committed to serving the most relevant search results possible to its consumers, and Direct Hit plays an important role in enhancing the overall search experience," said Rajive Mathur, director of search for Lycos.

The Lycos Network's HotBot also features Direct Hit, which was incorporated to the site in February. Lycos plans to feature Direct Hit's Related Searches, which allows users to narrow or broaden searches, in the near future.

Scandinavia Online (SOL), a leading portal in Scandinavia, reaches more than 40 percent of the Net population in Sweden and Norway.

Direct Hit plans to create individual search result databases specialized for each major SOL target audience in Norway, Sweden and Denmark, as well as a pan-Scandinavian database option.

Previously, Direct Hit's made moves in the European market via a recent agreement with UK online service provider Hollinger/UKMax.

Direct Hit's list of portal partners now includes Lycos, Microsoft, HotBot, AOL's ICQ, LookSmart, ZDNet, Scandinavia Online, Infoseek Express, Apple Sherlock and Hollinger/UKMax.

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