Microsoft Corporation Chief Executive Officer Steve Ballmer speaks during a news conference in Moscow April 20, 2009. REUTERS/Alexander Natruskin

(Reuters) - Microsoft Corp is likely to show a new version of its Internet search engine publicly for the first time next week, the Wall Street Journal said, citing people familiar with the matter.

The software giant has been testing a new version of the service internally under the name of Kumo.com and it may become part of the firm’s attempt to catch up with Internet search leaders Google Inc and Yahoo Inc.

Microsoft has hired JWT, a unit of WPP Plc, to develop an advertising campaign for the product, the paper said, citing people familiar with the matter. The search engine is expected to be unveiled at the “D: All Things Digital” conference.

Microsoft was not immediately available for comment.