Internet searching is a hot technology business, but you wouldn't know it from looking at Microsoft

The company doesn't use its own technology for Web searches. Instead, it relies mostly on a competitor, Yahoo!, for search results. And another company, Google, wears the search-engine crown. That's going to change within the next year, Microsoft Chief Executive Steve Ballmer said yesterday in a speech to marketing executives at Microsoft's headquarters. The company is working on its own search engine, and is expected to debut the technology within the next 12 months. Ballmer also said he regretted not directing more of Microsoft's resources earlier to developing search. Ballmer also said he regretted not directing more of Microsoft's resources earlier to developing search. Ballmer had little to say about Wednesday's announcement from European regulators that Microsoft had violated competition laws and gained an unfair advantage over competitors in the media player and server businesses. Microsoft said it will appeal the finding by the European Commission, which also fined the company about $612 million. Ballmer said he would not comment on rumors about Microsoft's possible acquisitions, including talk of buying out rival America Online. He said he has been too busy paying attention to rumors coming out of Europe.