Microsoft to unveil traffic jam beater: report

Microsoft Chief Executive Officer Steve Ballmer addresses a news conference in the northern German town of Hanover March 3, 2008. Microsoft Corp plans on Thursday to unveil a Web-based service for driving directions that uses sophisticated software to help its users avoid traffic jams, the New York Times reported.

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Microsoft Corp plans on Thursday to unveil a Web-based service for driving directions that uses sophisticated software to help its users avoid traffic jams, the New York Times reported.

The software technology system, called Clearflow, will provide drivers with alternative information for routes that takes into account prevailing traffic patterns, according to the Times.

The Clearflow system will be available as part of Microsoft's Live.com site for 72 U.S. cities, the report said.

Microsoft was not immediately available for comment.

(Reporting by Aarthi Sivaraman, editing by Will Waterman)