Microsoft is set to unveils its long-awaited next-generation search technology, code-named Kumo, next week at the D: All Things Digital technology conference in California, according to reports.

The unveiling will take place at the D: All Things Digital conference, to be held in Carlsbad, Calif. from May 26-28, according to a report in the Wall Street Journal and in the All Things Digital blog.

Kumo, a name sources say is not final, is expected to include more than just changes to the look of Microsoft's search engine. Among the expected enhancements is the inclusion of semantic search technology Microsoft got as part of last year's purchase of Powerset.

Microsoft has been running internal tests on the search technology since March with only limited public testing, the report said.

The worlds largest software company believes that current search engines aren't nearly as effective as they could be. According to an email Satya Nadella, senior vice president and head of engineering for Microsoft's Online Services Division, that was sent to employees earlier this year, she estimated that 40 percent of search queries go unanswered and 46 percent of search sessions take up more than 20 minutes.

We believe we can provide a better and more useful search experience that helps you not just search but accomplish tasks, Nadella said in the e-mail.

Microsoft has clearly been putting in great efforts to increase its search engine market share -- with its unsuccessful bid to partner with Yahoo so that together they may better challenge Google -- it is now looking to improve its own search engine capabilities.

According to April numbers from Nielsen Online, Microsoft had 10.3 percent of the U.S. search market, as compared to 15.8 percent for Yahoo and 64.2 percent for Google.

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