Microsoft's working on a new algorithm(BrowseRank) that could replace Google PageRank.
BrowseRank analysis includes time spent at a site or page added to the source and number of links to the content.

Will Microsoft’s BrowseRank determine what’s relevant and what gets ranked?

Read full article

erm... slight problem... it's more a marketing move IMO than anything.... keep in mind Yahoo came out with PPR (personalized pagerank) and HR (harmonic rank) already this year... pretty names don't mean much.


It's not like the other search engines aren't looking at/using already, signals relating to behavioral metrics... Just this year I have written about;

Beware; Google is watching you
Taking off my tin foil hat
Ranking via behavioral metrics(Google)
User sensitive PageRank(Yahoo)
Bookmarks as a ranking signal (Google)
Microsoft take on behavioral ranking signals

Guide to Google personalized search- which is a 4 part series wrapped up into a handy PDF


I would actually give the nod to Google in this area for not only better methodologies, but also access to data to make it work (toolbar, google analytics, AdWords data)...

In the end, it is still likely a 'dirty signal' beyond personalized search aspects and would be unlikely to carry a ton of weight in the grander ranking scheme of things... 

I am going to give the MS research document(PDF) a good read this week to see how it really stacks up.

Nice.

someone really needs to replace Google PageRank with something. Almost anything would do.

The only problem is getting the webmaster / seo community behind the idea.

bring it on...............

If the visitor hasn't clicked on one of my ads within 4 seconds then i'll lock the browser so they can't click 'back' - that'll keep them on the site longer..............hummmmm..................... i have an idea forming...........................

Northie wrote:

bring it on...............

If the visitor hasn't clicked on one of my ads within 4 seconds then i'll lock the browser so they can't click 'back' - that'll keep them on the site longer..............hummmmm..................... i have an idea forming...........................

Hahah

Browser kidnapping.... i've heard of browser hijacking... but thats a whole new level.