All About Microsoft reports that Microsoft is taking the wraps off a new learning tool, it social-search research project known as So.cl, from its FUSE Labs division.

According to Microsoft, it’s not meant to be a Facebook clone/killer. It’s not a Twitter rip-off. It’s not a Tumblr or Google+ or Google Currents clone/competitor. It’s not a new search engine. It’s not something that Microsoft expects to roll into/integrate with SharePoint, OneNote or Exchange/Outlook.

And, surprisingly — contrary to what the early leaks about it (when it was codenamed “Tulalip”) indicated — it’s aimed at a very specific user group: students and academics who are using social media to enhance their learning experiences.

  Microsoft takes the wraps off its So.cl social-search project