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Facebook, Microsoft Team Up Against Google

Posted by Soulskill on from the pretty-soon-we-won't-have-to-talk-to-our-friends-at-all dept.

Pickens writes "In a move that could be the biggest threat to Google's search standing yet, Microsoft and Facebook announced that they're teaming up for social search. When someone uses Bing's search engine to look for a new car or a book, she can see which ones her friends liked. While industry watchers say this is an interesting move for search, what's most notable is that Facebook turned to Microsoft for this deal and not to the market leader, Google. Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg says there is a specific reason he wants to go with Bing: 'They really are the underdog here. They're incentivized to go out and innovate. They have all these smart people and are trying to do all these new things.' The real importance of this week's announcement is that it highlights the growing strategic conflict between Facebook and Google, says analyst Ray Valdes. 'There is a battle for the future of the Web, and it is not about search engines, but about the social Web.'"

7 of 297 comments (clear)

  1. Plus. by PsyciatricHelp · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Plus they gave me a bonus.

  2. Re:Oh dear... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    ...I shall delete the thing soon.

    That's what you think.

    Regards,
    Mark Z.

  3. Finally! The death of Facebook! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    Microsoft have a habit of fatally betraying any company they "partner" up with. I couldn't have picked a better candidate for such a fate!

  4. PR Translation by c · · Score: 5, Insightful

    They really are the underdog here.

    "Their search engine sucks."

    They're incentivized to go out and innovate.

    "They gave us a lot of money"

    They have all these smart people and are trying
    to do all these new things.

    "They're rich and desperate. Ka-ching!"

    --
    Log in or piss off.
  5. Translation: by Todd+Knarr · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Translation of Zuckerberg's comments: "Microsoft has loads of cash, and they're willing to cut me an insanely good deal and throw money my way if it's got any chance of giving them a leg up on Google.".

  6. What, Google's worrying? by Anonymous+Showered · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Google's working on cars that drive by themselves.

    What the fuck is Microsoft innovating?

    Facebook is just a fad...

  7. Microsoft just fits with Facebook by formfeed · · Score: 5, Insightful
    Enough people are worried already about Google knowing to much. For Google, it really wouldn't help to get tainted by a cooperation with Zuckerberg, the poster-child of give-a-damn about privacy.

    Microsoft's business strategy "be evil" seems a much better fit for Facebook.