The major search players are trying to use the semantic web angle to improve search. Google had introduced secondary search earlier this month to facilitate users deep searching but looks like retailers do not like users to bypass the website’s search box.

Yahoo is now planning to support semantic web initiatives. Yahoo is reportedly feeling that the benefits of a data web have not reached the mainstream consumer, despite the remarkable progress in understanding the semantics of web content. Yahoo! Search intends to support semantic web standards by supporting a number of microformats including hCard, hCalendar, hReview, hAtom, and XFN. Perhaps Yahoo’s perspective is that semantic web technology can make searches more fruitful if the search results go beyond containing the keywords and actually mean what users are looking for.

Interesting new development is of Sequoia-backed visual search engine SearchMe, which is just starting to send invitations to their private beta launched last week. More players means more innovation and with the growing internet content clutter, semantic web might be the answer for some organizations.