Microsoft's Bing to Replace Google As Default Search Engine on iPhone?

[MacRumors]

Businessweek reports that Apple and Microsoft are currently in negotiations to replace Google as the default search engine on the iPhone with Microsoft's Bing.com. The talks have reportedly been underway for weeks.

Businessweek cites the increasing rivalry between Google and Apple as one of the reasons behind the discussions.

"Apple and Google know the other is their primary enemy," says one of the people, who's familiar with Apple's thinking. "Microsoft is now a pawn in that battle."

If the negotiations are successful, it could also mean that Bing could eventually replace Google as the default search engine for Apple's desktop version of Safari as well.

With Google's entry into the mobile phone business as well as Apple's recent acquisition of a mobile ad company, the two businesses have encroached on each other's territories. Apple has even been said to be working on distancing itself from Google's Maps data in the iPhone.

Even if Apple and Microsoft do come to an agreement, Businessweek notes that this may just be a time buying move on Apple's part who is reportedly working on their own "skunk works" search technology.

Article Link: Microsoft's Bing to Replace Google As Default Search Engine on iPhone?

[krye]

Bing shows better porn.

[generationxwing]

Eww.

As long as it's still an option to use Google I'd be OK with it. And I'd be really choked if Google Maps wasn't on the iPhone. My city's transit uses Google maps and I rely on it quite frequently.

The upside is that MS has been reduced to pawn status which is a little funny.

[Grimace]

Wow. This would be an epic shift!

[heySparky]

Replacing Google on Safari with Bing won't thrill me in the least. Hope that doesn't happen.

[basesloaded190]

Man let this not be true. Google is a great search engine, bing is just..ok. At least give us an option to continue to use google!

[CherryJello]

I'm upset it got this bad between them, but as long as I can switch it back to Google...no big deal to me

[macduke]

This is crap. Bing sucks. This can't be true! Don't make a deal with the devil Apple! You'll regret it...

[MorphingDragon]

I think this is to just create click traffic.

What sane person would willingly use Bing?

[LanPhantom]

Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; U; CPU iPhone OS 3_1_2 like Mac OS X; en-us) AppleWebKit/528.18 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/4.0 Mobile/7D11 Safari/528.16)

WTF??

[TheSlush]

Microsoft has repeatedly demonstrated where "quality" sits on their list of priorities.

Not that high, folks. Not that high.

The thought of Apple aligning itself with any of their products makes me queasy.

[skeep5]

I feel like vomiting

[heySparky]

Originally Posted by MorphingDragon

I think this is to just create click traffic.

What sane person would willingly use Bing?

Seriously, the only reason I'd use Bing was for the cash back when buying stuff.

[Stella]

Apple - give the user a choice of whatever search engine they wish to use.

Its not difficult!!

Regarding Safari: gives you a choice of 2 search engines, but yet, Firefox, any you want! Why can't Apple do the same as Firefox?

Holy crap - soon Apple will be dictating what toilet roll its users should use!

[jaw04005]

I don’t buy this at all. Apple and Google have worked too hard integrating Google services in everything from Mac OS X to iLife to the iPhone to the iPod nano.

Eric Schmidt and other Google employees were even sitting in the VIP section at the last Apple keynote in September.

I could see Apple adding Bing to the list of search providers since Bing has since eclipsed Yahoo. However, making them the default search engine seems odd.

Although Verizon just switched all their Blackberry phones to Bing. I’m not sure if you can even change the search bar back to Google.

http://www.infoworld.com/d/mobilize/...erry-users-100

http://www.boygeniusreport.com/2009/...search-option/

[kiljoy616]

looks to be that apple cares less about what users want and just does what ever they figure gets them more money. this is going to suck big time.

[MatLu]

I might be in the minority here, but I actually really like Bing. I don't really care which one becomes the default search engine, but if they give me another option to pick from, that's fine (as long as they don't take away Google from the options). I'm not really too picky on which one is default. I use Google for looking up stock information, use Yahoo! for things like checking sports, Bing for other stuff. So, either ones if fine. We have Google and Yahoo! to pick from. If they add Bing and don't take away either of the others, that's great. Right now I have Yahoo! as my default.

[basesloaded190]

I hope this doesn't lead to google maps leaving as well!

[swingerofbirch]

The title of this story is a bit misleading. Bing isn't just a search engine, it's a Decision Engine.

[alexhasfun28]

Haha, Bing does have better porn results! anyways, i guess this could be some nice shift? The Bing maps are real clear and crisp also. It's just that, the map pictures are like from 2003? it's weird. And then it's more secure because they don't zoom directly into your house. But then again, i'm also going to miss google. Too bad their company got all fu**ed up with the "ROBOT" android.

Just as long as Apple doesn't go with Verizon, then it's all fine with me! (:

C'mon, think different.

[Andronicus]

I have nothing against MS, but I just don't like bing. Oh well, at least you can still go to www.google.com.

[chimerical]

Given that the iPhone currently allows you to set either Google or Yahoo search (with Google as the default), it's most likely that if this rumor were true, Bing would be the default, but with the others remaining as an option in Safari settings as it is now.

[Tofaha]

Originally Posted by swingerofbirch

The title of this story is a bit misleading. Bing isn't just a search engine, it's a Decision Engine.

LOL. ahh yes.

[Darth.Titan]

If true, Hell has officially frozen over...

[monke]

As long as I can still google with Bing, I'll be satisfied.