  Specially-designed microlensing searches, some of which have been underway
for several years, are sensitive to extrasolar planets orbiting the most common
stars in our Galaxy. Microlensing is particularly well-suited to the detection
of Jupiter-mass planets orbiting their parent stars at several AU. Since Jovian
analogs are thought to influence the subsequent evolution of most planetary
systems, they are particularly important to study. The orbital radii and
distances to the planetary systems probed by microlensing are larger than those
currently studied by radial velocity techniques; the two methods are thus
complementary. Recent results from microlensing searches are discussed,
including constraints on Jovian analogs orbiting typical Galactic stars.
Benefits and drawbacks of the technique for the characterization of planetary
systems, and future prospects are briefly reviewed.
