Bing goes the iPhone. Microsoft and Apple discussing Bing as default search on Mobile Safari

Seth Weintraub
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January 19, 2010
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According to Businessweek, Apple is in talks with Microsoft to drop Google search as the default on Mobile Safari on the iPhone and iPod Touch.  The move would place Bing, Microsoft's recently rebranded search, at the top of the mobile browser.  The reason would be twofold.  One: Microsoft would offer more money for users who click on ads from search and two, because Google's Android is a much bigger threat to Apple's iPhone than anything Microsoft can muster.

Interestingly, Apple may also add Bing as an option in Desktop Safari as well, according to their sources.  The deal, if finalized, may not be a long one however.  Businessweek closes by saying that Apple is working on a skunkworks search product of their own and they don't want to 'outsource the future'.

Comments (30)

Polrbear (not verified) | January 19, 2010 - 10:13pm

Is this for real?!! This cannot be for real. Google is a thousand time the search engine than Bing. I'm shaking my head and wondering how can one company be so far ahead of the competition, so ahead of its time and thinking and yet so retarded in its choice of search engine. Anyone have an answer to this riddle?

9to5Mac Noob (not verified) | January 19, 2010 - 10:21pm

The search has to be good, not be the most used for good user experience. The rest will fall into place. Google has done nothing significant to tie in it's users... I wonder when Apple's Spotlight goes www?

9to5Mac Noob (not verified) | January 19, 2010 - 10:26pm

Have you ever tried to re-Google something off the beaten path on a friends computer? Maybe a few days later and you can't remember the exact words you used?

It's easy to imagine a far better search engine than google - only no one has succeeded... yet!

Violian (not verified) | January 19, 2010 - 10:24pm

I can never find answers to my questions on Bing. Bing was designed more for e-commerce....such as when I search "ipod touch review" on Bing, most of my results will be all of the places I can get iPod touches and which of them has the cheapest prices rather than the review itself. I prefer Yahoo! as my search default.

Noob Dogg (not verified) | January 19, 2010 - 10:25pm

Well its just a slap in the face to that (we'll copy anything that makes us money) upstart google, until Apple come up with their own solution. There's also a chance they will be dumping Google maps in iPhone OS4. Google is evil and soon the world will know just how much.........

Machiavelli (not verified) | January 19, 2010 - 10:33pm

Search and Ads... You have the evil right there no matter who does it

9to5Mac Noob (not verified) | January 19, 2010 - 10:29pm

Good move for Apple and Microsoft.........   

taoprophet420 (not verified) | January 19, 2010 - 10:47pm

I would imagine google will still be a choice for search engine. Like you can pick between Google and Yahoo now on mobile Safari. I'm curious to what the default and optional search engines are in other countries. This move is a must for both companies to try to real in google some. I'm sure Apple would make plenty of money for having Bing as default browser of both Mobile Safari and Safari. I always seen Apple's new data center as a entry point for Apple into the search business. I remember the rumors from 2 or 3 years ago that Apple was working on a more visual search engine. I think a very visual search engine works well for iphone and tablet. I think local results with instant map and images next to each result would be great for mobile device. I think the Bing App is a step in that direction. I'm not a fan of most MS products, but i prefer its App to Googles. Also i think the results you get for Bing are better suited for mobile results. 

9to5Mac Noob (not verified) | January 19, 2010 - 10:51pm

First, ATT. Now, MS. There goes any desire for iPhone.

iMat77 (not verified) | January 19, 2010 - 11:19pm

I mean, Yahoo is the "weakest" of the three main search engines and the only one not competing directly with Apple in other markets. The finance default app in the iPhone is already powered by Yahoo. So I really wonder why discuss with Bing, backed by the giant Microsoft but relatively new, instead of with Yahoo....

DistortedLoop | January 20, 2010 - 11:37am

Didn't Yahoo and MS make a deal last summer to have Yahoo search be powered by Bing?  I don't recall if that was for search engine, or just ads.  It would be interesting to compare search results to see.

DistortedLoop | January 20, 2010 - 11:37am

Didn't Yahoo and MS make a deal last summer to have Yahoo search be powered by Bing?  I don't recall if that was for search engine, or just ads.  It would be interesting to compare search results to see.

buy r4i software (not verified) | January 19, 2010 - 11:26pm

Wow, Bing just gets better and better all the time doesnt it. Really trying to become a 'Bing Guy' instead of Google Earth... I love the product. So I think Microsoft is doing the right thing.

fishbert (not verified) | January 19, 2010 - 11:29pm

I don't buy it.  It wasn't that long ago that Google was sitting on Apple's board of directors, and there's rumor that the reason the Nexus One doesn't do multi-touch is because Apple simply asked them not to so as not to test a weak patent.

 

This smells like pure speculation on the part of Businessweek based on MS's recent strategy of buying presence for Bing.  I just don't see Apple taking that bait.

9to5Mac Noob (not verified) | January 20, 2010 - 12:09am

Bing is something that Microsoft has done right, it works well, and has a good name and brand, far better than Windows Live search. I actually like Bing Maps, they have something unique called "birds eye view", which in my opinion is very useful, and It's nice to see they are not just blindly copying google, they actully brought something to the table for once, and I respect that.

DistortedLoop | January 20, 2010 - 11:41am

Bird's eye view?  I'll have to check it out.  I'll tell you, Street View on Google has saved me many trips to the streets for a major project I was working on last summer.  Priceless app in my mind.

9to5Mac Noob (not verified) | January 20, 2010 - 3:34pm

I used Bird's eye view way before streetview came out. They both have their own qualities. 

9to5Mac Noob (not verified) | January 20, 2010 - 12:15am

Safari would do better if it allowed people to pick their own search engine, personally I would like to set my search engine to  google.co.uk

9to5Mac Noob (not verified) | January 20, 2010 - 3:12am

Let the user choose.

9to5Mac Noob (not verified) | January 20, 2010 - 6:28am

The user chooses from the menu, the user does not write the menu. I agree with you in principle, but reality remains.

9to5Mac Noob (not verified) | January 20, 2010 - 6:28am

The user chooses from the menu, the user does not write the menu. I agree with you in principle, but reality remains.

9to5Mac Noob (not verified) | January 20, 2010 - 3:36am

I think they'd have to spruce up http://www.m.bing.com first before they get Uncle Steveo's go-ahead.

9to5Mac Noob (not verified) | January 20, 2010 - 3:36am

I think they'd have to spruce up http://www.m.bing.com first before they get Uncle Steveo's go-ahead.

currymac (not verified) | January 20, 2010 - 4:14am

I have never Binged and I'm not about to start now. No Microsoft is good Microsoft in my book.

9to5Mac Noob (not verified) | January 20, 2010 - 4:14am

Maybe microsoft will do office iphone becouse of that

9to5Mac Noob (not verified) | January 20, 2010 - 7:47am

I hope not!

9to5Mac Noob (not verified) | January 20, 2010 - 4:14am

Maybe microsoft will do office iphone becouse of that

9to5Mac Noob (not verified) | January 20, 2010 - 4:15am

Maybe microsoft will do office iphone becouse of that

9to5Mac Noob (not verified) | January 20, 2010 - 9:54am

I started using startpage.com because Google has gone on record saying that they want to hold the world's information. They are also a member of the CFR (Council of Foreign Relations) which has a global agenda in place. Verizon is also on board. Research CFR New World Order and you'll quickly see why the CIA has funded Google in the beginning. Gotta love CIA Street View tho! Ha ha.

Andreea (not verified) | April 12, 2010 - 2:33am

I looked all over google for it!! Thanks for the info..pfff! :)