The big question is: Will CarPoint's custom Web ordering even be offered in Asia?

CNN: ASIANOW - TIME Asia | Asia Buzz: In the Fast Lane

Prices, even the dealers' true cost, are now laid bare with the click of a mouse on sites like Kelley's Blue Book and Microsoft's CarPoint.

FORBES: Web wheels

One can already see the outlines of the beast in the pull down menus linking all of Microsoft's online properties (Expedia, Investor, The Internet Gaming Zone, CarPoint, etc.).

FORBES: Through the looking glass

Granted MSN has fared badly in attracting new customers and lags AOL by miles, but the Gaming Zone, CarPoint and Expedia are all leaders in their categories and growing rapidly.

FORBES: Empire of pieces

At the big press conference in San Francisco, Ford president and chief executive Jac Nasser waxed lyrical about the impact of Ford taking a minority stake in CarPoint, Microsoft's car-buying site.

CNN: ASIANOW - TIME Asia | Asia Buzz: In the Fast Lane

Internet sites such as CarPoint, Expedia, Slate, etc.

FORBES: Empire of pieces

BuyPower not only gives GM an answer to Auto-By-Tel and CarPoint, it also allows the Detroit giant to build an immensely valuable consumer database and a chance to interact directly with consumers, bypassing the dealers.

FORBES: Web wheels

In Japan, where Softbank is the favored partner for U.S. high-tech firms, Microsoft introduced CarPoint, its Internet auto locator service after offering 50% to Softbank and another 10% to Yahoo Japan, where CarPoint will be the exclusive car-buying service.

FORBES: Master of the Internet