I Bing it a lot, it is simply a superb search engine compared to Google. The results are nicely laid out in front of me and the simple things really do matter.
Sadly, even though I love Bing, I rarely get a chance to use the fabulous search engine. Why, you ask? Because Google has me within their grasp through their two most popular products, Gmail and Android.
Both Android and Gmail integrate Google’s main revenue driver, Google search, and there is no way I can get away from it.
Therein lies the problem.
Google is restricting my ability to choose what search engine I want to use within their products and I don’t like it. I should be able to choose what search engine I want to use, especially when Google has had their own fair share of issues with default search engines.
In May of 2005, Google filed antitrust claims against Microsoft due to their policies on including default search engines. Whatever happened to be your search engine on previous versions of IE was also your default search engine in IE 7. This was seemingly unfair to Google and is probably the reason why you can now choose your search engine in IE upon install.
Android nor Gmail even give me the option to switch search engines, at least Microsoft did in IE 7.
So when will companies start filing antitrust complaints against Google? My guess, soon.
Android is growing at a fast rate and it will eventually surpass the iPhone in market share (if you doubt me, read some Microsoft vs. Apple history). As Android grows, you can bet a few million that Microsoft will pursue antitrust violations against Google for one reason only, Windows Mobile is failing (shows no signs of improving) and Bing is succeeding. Microsoft has to cut out Google one way or another, and it will be done under the guise of, “making room for competition”.
Google is going to have issues on their hands, especially as people realize that Bing is steadily becoming the better search engine to Google and the sooner Microsoft sues, the happier my search experience will be.
e-mail the author: holden@layeredbyte.com
Good point!
Good point!
I can't comment to Android, but isn't the search in Gmail an integrated part of the Gmail front end? The same way search might be part of Outlook? Surely there is absolutely nothing stopping Microsoft from creating a tool that takes your Gmail details and searches your mail. Google wouldn't have a problem with that, it's your email! But why should Google have to make it possible for this to be integrated into the gmail interface?
I think the reason Microsoft faced antitrust claims was that IE had dominating market share (there were very few other browsers worth mentioning) and used that power to lock people into Microsoft's search product as well. No one would claim that Gmail is the dominant email interface, so they can't possibly be seen to be exploiting that to push their search. Particularly as their Gmail search is just a subsection of their actual search product, and only searches your mail. As I said, if MS made a Bing email search product, there would be nothing stopping you from using it.
I can't comment to Android, but isn't the search in Gmail an integrated part of the Gmail front end? The same way search might be part of Outlook? Surely there is absolutely nothing stopping Microsoft from creating a tool that takes your Gmail details and searches your mail. Google wouldn't have a problem with that, it's your email! But why should Google have to make it possible for this to be integrated into the gmail interface?
I think the reason Microsoft faced antitrust claims was that IE had dominating market share (there were very few other browsers worth mentioning) and used that power to lock people into Microsoft's search product as well. No one would claim that Gmail is the dominant email interface, so they can't possibly be seen to be exploiting that to push their search. Particularly as their Gmail search is just a subsection of their actual search product, and only searches your mail. As I said, if MS made a Bing email search product, there would be nothing stopping you from using it.
In fact, Xoopit (now closed after being purchased by Yahoo) was a product that included a Firefox extension to improve your Gmail experience (and enhanced the search I believe). There was nothing stopping MS from purchasing them and calling it Bing for Gmail.
In fact, Xoopit (now closed after being purchased by Yahoo) was a product that included a Firefox extension to improve your Gmail experience (and enhanced the search I believe). There was nothing stopping MS from purchasing them and calling it Bing for Gmail.
Thanks
Thanks
Google is using their growing positions in certain markets and locking me into their product (search).
While they aren't dominant yet, that is the main goal and that is when issues will start arising.
Google is using their growing positions in certain markets and locking me into their product (search).
While they aren't dominant yet, that is the main goal and that is when issues will start arising.
“The search and advertising markets are already highly competitive with very low switching costs, so users and advertisers already have plenty of choice and are not locked in.” – Jonathan Rosenberg, Senior Vice President, Product Management at Google (http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2009/12/meaning-...)
Read the whole article. Their aim is to “lock users in” only by creating innovative products that people WANT to use. It's entirely different from the tactics that other big companies use to keep their users.
Would you like a Kynetx app for this? It'll integrate nicely into Gmail. Android, however, will be slightly more difficult.
Dude, I think that would be pretty bomb and I will make sure to pimp it