Microsoft to Launch New Search Engine Named Bing

Posted on May 28, 2009

Microsoft is planning to launch a new search engine called Bing. The new search engine will be completely live at Bing.com by June 3rd. PC Magazine has already test-drived the new search engine and they have a review up here. Search Engine Land has posted some screen shots of Bing.

The New York Post says the short, catchy name for the new search engine is meant to make you think of a light bulb going off in your head when you have a good idea.

Bing is presumably a reference to the proverbial light bulb that goes off in your head when a good idea hits, but company insiders wouldn't rule out a last-minute name change. Microsoft has trademarked a number of possible monikers, including Hook and Sift, to throw people off the scent.

Bing is the kind of cute, quirky name that helped endear users to Google, but search experts said it will take a lot more to break users of their Google habit. An entire generation of Web users grew up on Google, and they automatically turn to it every time they search.

Microsoft still has a lot of Internet Explorer users and it can use that to encourage people to use Bing. However, they never were able to gain any marketshare over Google with their last search engine, Live.com.


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