Search registration and launch reference for Windows Phone 8

[ This article is for Windows Phone 8 developers. If you’re developing for Windows 10, see the latest documentation. ]

Starting with Windows Phone OS 7.1, apps can extend the Search experience on Windows Phone. Using Search extensibility in your app primarily involves two steps: registering for search extensions that are relevant to your app and handling launches from deep link URIs. For each type of quick card, this topic describes the available extensions and the quick card parameters that are passed via the deep link URI. For more information about using Search extensibility with your app, see Search extensibility for Windows Phone 8 and How to extend the Search experience for Windows Phone 8.

The purpose of Search extensibility is to save the user time. Apps must use the deep link URI parameters in a meaningful way. For example, use them to automatically search within your own app when launched from a quick card. Use the Quick Card Sample to learn more about the URI parameter values that are passed from quick cards.

Important Note:

Apps that misuse Search extensibility risk being pulled from the Windows Phone Store. Register only for search extensions that are relevant to your app. To learn more about which extensions Bing associates with various quick cards, experiment with the Quick Card Sample.

This topic describes the extensions and URI parameters associated with each of the following quick cards:

  • Product Card: for items listed under the products heading in the web pivot page of search results

  • Place Card: for locations listed in the local pivot page of search results

  • Movie Card: for movies currently playing in theaters listed under the “Movies near…” heading in the web pivot page of search results

  • Event Card: for events listed on the see+do pivot page of Local Scout (event cards are available only in Windows Phone 8)

Product card

A product card describes information about a product. Product cards are typically launched from a list under the products heading in the web pivot page of search results. Products are categorized into multiple extensions. When launched by a Product card, event information is sent in the parameters of the deep link URI to your app.

Product card extensions

This section lists the extensions for product cards.

  • Bing_Products_Arts_and_Crafts

  • Bing_Products_Baby_and_Nursery

  • Bing_Products_Beauty_and_Fragrance

  • Bing_Products_Books_and_Magazines

  • Bing_Products_Cameras_and_Optics

  • Bing_Products_Car_and_Garage

  • Bing_Products_Clothing_and_Shoes

  • Bing_Products_Collectibles_and_Memorabilia

  • Bing_Products_Computing

  • Bing_Products_Electronics

  • Bing_Products_Flowers

  • Bing_Products_Gourmet_Food_and_Chocolate

  • Bing_Products_Health_and_Wellness

  • Bing_Products_Home_Furnishings

  • Bing_Products_Jewelry_and_Watches

  • Bing_Products_Kitchen_and_Housewares

  • Bing_Products_Lawn_and_Garden

  • Bing_Products_Miscellaneous

  • Bing_Products_Movies

  • Bing_Products_Music

  • Bing_Products_Musical_Instruments

  • Bing_Products_Office_Products

  • Bing_Products_Pet_Supplies

  • Bing_Products_Software

  • Bing_Products_Sports_and_Outdoors

  • Bing_Products_Tools_and_Hardware

  • Bing_Products_Toys

  • Bing_Products_Travel

  • Bing_Products_Vehicles

  • Bing_Products_Video_Games

Product card launch parameters

The following parameters are sent in the deep link URI when your app is launched from a product card.

URI Parameter

Description

Supported in Windows Phone OS 7.1

Supported in Windows Phone 8

ProductName

The product name

Category

A comma-delimited list of extensions related to the product

Example:

/SearchExtras?ProductName=Xbox+360&Category=Bing_Products_Electronics,Bing_Products_Office_Products

Place card

A place card describes information about a location. Place cards are typically launched from a list of locations in the local pivot page of search results. Places are categorized into multiple extensions. When launched by a place card, place information is sent in the parameters of the deep link URI to your app.

Place card extensions

This section lists the extensions for place cards.

  • Bing_Places_Arts_and_Entertainment

  • Bing_Places_Automotive_and_Vehicles

  • Bing_Places_Business_to_Business

  • Bing_Places_Computers_and_Technology

  • Bing_Places_Education

  • Bing_Places_Food_and_Dining

  • Bing_Places_Government_and_Community

  • Bing_Places_Health_and_Beauty

  • Bing_Places_Home_and_Family

  • Bing_Places_Legal_and_Finance

  • Bing_Places_Professionals_and_Services

  • Bing_Places_Real_Estate_and_Construction

  • Bing_Places_Sports_and_Recreation

  • Bing_Places_Shopping

  • Bing_Places_Travel

Place card launch parameters

The following parameters are sent in the deep link URI when your app is launched from a place card.

URI Parameter

Description

Supported in Windows Phone OS 7.1

Supported in Windows Phone 8

PlaceName

The name of the place

PlaceLatitude

The latitude of the place

PlaceLongitude

The longitude of the place

PlaceAddress

The address of the place

PhoneNumber

The telephone number of the place

Category

A comma-delineated list of extensions related to the place

Example:

/SearchExtras?PlaceName=Fourth+Coffee&PlaceLatitude=47.64602&PlaceLongitude=-122.135074&PlaceAddress=1234+MicrosoftWay%2c+Redmond%2c+WA%2c+98101&PhoneNumber=(425)+555-0123&Category=Bing_Places_Food_and_Dining

Movie card

A movie card describes information about a movie currently playing in theaters. Movie cards are typically launched from a list under the “Movies near…” heading in the web pivot page of search results. Movies are not categorized into multiple extensions. When launched by a Movie card, movie information is sent in the parameters of the deep link URI to your app.

Movie card extension

Use the following extension to register for movie cards:

  • Bing_Movies

Movie card launch parameters

The following parameters are sent in the deep link URI when your app is launched from a movie card.

URI Parameter

Description

Supported in Windows Phone OS 7.1

Supported in Windows Phone 8

MovieName

The name of the movie currently playing in theaters

ReleaseDate

When the movie was released in theaters

Category

The extensions related to the movie

Example:

/SearchExtras?MovieName=Adventure+Works&ReleaseDate=129836124000000000&Category=Bing_Movies

The ReleaseDate value is expressed in units of 100-nanosecond ticks. The ticks represent the 100-nanosecond intervals that have elapsed since 12:00 midnight, January 1, 1601 A.D. (C.E.) Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). To create a Sytem.DateTime structure from the ReleaseDate value, use the FromFileTimeUtc method.

Event card

An event card describes information about an occasion that a user may want to attend, such as a concert or sporting event. Events are categorized into multiple extensions. When launched by an Event card, event information is sent in the parameters of the deep link URI to your app.

Note

Event cards are available only in Windows Phone 8.

Event card extensions

Use the following extension to register for event cards.

  • Bing_Events

Event card launch parameters

The following parameters are sent in the deep link URI when your app is launched from an event card.

URI Parameter

Description

Supported in Windows Phone OS 7.1

Supported in Windows Phone 8

EventName

The name of the event

(not available)

StartDate

When the event starts

(not available)

PlaceName

The name of the event location

(not available)

PlaceLatitude

The latitude of the event location

(not available)

PlaceLongitude

The longitude of the event location

(not available)

PlaceAddress

The address of the event

(not available)

Example:

/SearchExtras?EventName=Adventure+Works+Adventure&StartDate=130044060000000000&PlaceName=Apine+Ski+House&PlaceLatitude=47.64602&PlaceLongitude=-122.135074&PlaceAddress=1234+MicrosoftWay%2c+Redmond%2c+WA%2c+98101&PhoneNumber=1-425-555-0123&Category=Bing_Events

The StartDate value is expressed in units of 100-nanosecond ticks. The ticks represent the 100-nanosecond intervals that have elapsed since 12:00 midnight, January 1, 1601 A.D. (C.E.) Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). To create a Sytem.DateTime structure from the StartDate value, use the FromFileTimeUtc method.

See Also

Other Resources

Search extensibility for Windows Phone 8

How to extend the Search experience for Windows Phone 8

How to integrate with App Instant Answer for Windows Phone 8

Quick Card Sample

Search Extensibility Sample