Google Introduces "Instant" - Predictive Search

This is Google showing that it's got a lot of innovative mojo left. With "Instant", it is a predictive search that allows users to see what they are searching even before hitting the return key.

It's live and working now. And I am freaking impressed. Oh, Google, please go back to your roots and be less evil.



Now, let's see Microsoft's Bing try to outdo Google. I love competition.

No Bing For Me, Or Other Non-Verizon Users

I like trying new things, especially new apps and mobile tech. So when I learned that Bing will be available today, I waited patiently for it. When it didn't appear in the Marketplace, I started to dig around.

It turned out that Bing is only available for Verizon Wireless customers with Android phones. Hen this fact hit me: the Marketplace isn't equal for all.

In fact, Microsoft acknowleged the desire to bring Bing to all Android devices, the Marketplace filtered out non-VW queries.

The implications of this is pretty big. It means that developers can be locked out of some carriers depending on whatever deals are agreed upon.

Some apps may be denied because of carrier-specific feature. Others may be if a carrier signs deal with a developer. Today, it is Bing, Microsoft has a search deal with VW. But what about tomorrow? It may be the next hottest game.

Imagine if T-Mobile has an exclusive lock on any new EA games for a period if time. Or if ATT decides it wants to lock out some content because another part of its empire is having some licensing dispute with the content owners.

I am just not sure Google in trying to vie for mobile dominance should allow carriers so much control. Sure, Bing is a Google search competitor and wouldn't mind seeing as little of Microsoft on the mobile platform it fathered (or mothered), this app store policy may backfire some day when it is an app that all Android users want but find that they must be on a specific carrier in order to use it.

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Future of Mobile Search: Google Versus Bing

Rumor has it that Google pays Apple $100 million to be the default search engine on the iPhone. Frankly, that was more than I expected. This particular rumor surfaced after another rumor indicating that Apple and Microsoft, not a heavy weight in search, were in talks to make Bing the default search engine on the next version of the iPhone.

There was some indications as the Bing app for the iPhone works pretty well. Now, the question is how much more Google is willing to pay to keep Google the default search engine on the iPhone? $150 Million? $200 Million? And can Google afford to say enough is enough should Jobs push harder to squeeze more money from Google?

I'm not sure Apple is ready to go with Bing. And I wonder if Google realizes this. Why is that?

Google is search to many mobile users and Bing really won't be dethroning Google in mobile search any soon if at all. And there is no reason why Apple would want to help Microsoft's long-term goal. It's simply not in Cupertino's interests at all.

Google will be the search engine king for the mobile market while Bing struggles on as an iPhone app and, hopefully, become more relevant and serious challenger to Google on a resurging Windows Mobile platform. Meanwhile, Apple will extract more money from Google, buy itself some time until its own search engine is release.

Note: Don't be surprise if Apple buys one of the existing search engines on the market.

Bing on iPhone - Preview of Windows Mobile 7?

Microsoft released an app that allows iPhone users to use Bing, bring the three major search engines to Apple's mobile platform.  Boy, this is awkward, eh?  I want to be in the room when his guys came to his office and told him that they have to make an app for the iPhone and it'll be Bing.  

Well, it means the mobile search war is now engaged.  Google, by default, is running the mobile search show as it resides on nearly ever major platform.  Not counting Android devices, Google is the default search engine on the iPhone's mobile Safari.  Including those with iPod Touch, 80 million iPhone and iPod Touch users rely on Google for their searches.  

I'm not sure Bing coming to the iPhone is a big deal at the moment but it does mean that Yahoo and Google cannot take the iPhone platform for granted.  And I'm sure we'll see Bing on other platforms in short order.  And for mobile users, this is fantastic.  

Personally, I deleted Google's app months ago.  It was static and it doesn't offer me anything more than what I can get on Safari.  Yahoo's app was more engaging, offering social networks, news, and mail.  With Yahoo, you feel like you've got the whole portal experience on an app.

And what of Bing?  At the home page, you get a very nice interface that reminded me of Pre's own looks.  It was uncanny.  At the top is the search field and at the bottom are options for news, maps, movies, images, businesses, and directions.  

As you can see from the image, this isn't a simple mobile Bing search wrapped an app. The following are more images of searching.  I think the image search is awesome.  

It's promising and Microsoft really can design a good app if it really wants to.  Imagine what's coming for Windows Mobile 7 if Microsoft can do this for the iPhone.  Google, time to step it, man.  

Now, the question is whether Bing will be on Android.

Note:  Keep an eye on this.  Google's the new boogy-man as far as old guard techs are concerned.  Don't be surprised seeing Microsoft and Apple cozy up a bit on certain fronts.  I'm serious about this.  

Microsoft: If You Can't Beat Them, Then...You Know

Looks like Microsoft is enlisting help in the mobile war.  This time, it is working with mobile leader (in terms of marketshare) Nokia by adding Microsoft's office suite on its smartphones.

Does the deal make sense?  According to WSJ's reasoning, it does since both companies, with plenty in their mobile arsenal but aren't really doing to well with smaller and more agile competitors like Apple's iPhone and Google's Android, can look to combine their forces and muster up some kind of response.

Nokia with its marketshare and armed with Microsoft's mobile Office suite could be just the thing.  If not in the minds of the consumers, it should make CIOs in the corporate world take another look at Symbian devices.

Will this work?  Only time will tell.  It is perfect timing as Apple and Google seems to be going their separate ways.  This, at the very least, is welcoming news to Nokia and Microsoft.  They'll use each other to beef up their positions (Symbian devices and WM 7).

I wonder if there could be more.  It would be completely find for Nokia to use Windows Mobile in a phone or two.  But more than that, Microsoft can really do Google some damage if Nokia will use Bing as the default search engine on its phones.

We'll know soon enough tomorrow.  I'm hoping Bing will be a big part of tomorrow's announcement.

Source:  CBS Marketwatch, WSJ