PicScout’s ImageExchange is moving into an open, no-registration-required beta testing period. Users can freely download and install the ImageExchange Firefox add-on that identifies licensable images among search results.
The company has been beta-testing the add-on since October. When users perform image searches using the popular open-source Mozilla Firefox Internet browser, PicScout-indexed images are identified with an “i” icon. Clicking on thumbnails brings up a window that identifies the license type—royalty-free, rights-managed, microstock or user-generated—and licensor. A licensing transaction can be initiated with one subsequent click.
In addition to Firefox, PicScout is putting out an Internet Explorer 8-compatible version of the ImageExchange add-on this month. The add-ons currently work with Google and Yahoo! image search engines. PicScout encourages user feedback.