There's No Shill for Microsoft Bing on Google Watch
On Aug. 10 I posted a piece on eWEEK in which I explored the one scenario I could think of that would enable Microsoft Bing to overtake Google in search. Many readers, clearly pro-Google in nature, commented angrily on my opinion piece, "How Microsoft Bing Could Overtake Google in Search." Many readers said I was getting paid to write the report by Microsoft. Here's one of the many similar comments from anonymous readers:
The article is purely a Microsoft PR. The writer keeps on portraying Google as data hungry and Microsoft's aggressive efforts in search as "cool". He even suggested the defection of consumers from google to microsoft. Most of us consumers do not think Google is greedy. I'm sure these people aren't regular Google Watch readers, so they likely had no idea that the piece had been written by the same guy who has been writing on Google Watch that Bing won't beat Google in search. I believed that after testing Bing when it came out in June, and I believe it today. However, I criticize Google, too, especially around its privacy practices. Google makes a lot of people nervous, enough so that The Onion is poking fun at it. And if I had to distill the article down to a synopsis it would be this: Google's data collection from Web searches and the increasing glut of consumer and business data it hosts on its servers have made people wary. To expand its purview on the Web, Google has also branched into other computing markets with Android, Chrome and Chrome OS. These factors, and some business moves to stifle competition, such as Google's bid to partner with Yahoo in search ads to block Microsoft, have made the DOJ and other regulators sit up and take notice. Ironically, the DOJ and other groups are wary about Google's growth on the Internet at the expense of Microsoft partly because of the anticompetitive position Microsoft imposed on businesses in the 1990s. If Microsoft opened the door as a software power then, Google is threatening to inch in today. If these groups sue Google enough, or Google has some serious privacy missteps, Google will lose its luster. The company will become uncool and maybe, depending on unforeseen intangibles, it will be seen as evil. Google users the world over could revolt. Remember, Microsoft was not so reviled, so repugnant to people until it was found by the DOJ to be a monopolist. Then it became the object of greedy corporate America; uncool and disgraced. The very mention of Microsoft left a sour taste in peoples' mouths. If people grow disenchanted with Google, who is to say that people won't flock to Bing for succor? The speed and accuracy have proven Bing a worthy successor. The switch from Google to Bing could happen in three years or in 10 years. It probably won't happen at all, but it could. Part of my job is to consider all of the possibilities, however disturbing or unlikely they may be to readers. But I am surely no Microsoft shill. In fact, I used to think that Microsoft's Internet presence was lame and boring. Bing has shown me something, even as it strains toward double-digit market share. |
Comments (9)
I think you bring to light a very real scenario. Unlikely? Yes! But a great read and really gets the gears grinding in my head. Thanks for the good read and point to ponder.
Posted by kpeezy | August 14, 2009 1:42 AM
Anyone who says Google isn't greedy isn't very bright.
Posted by Ikram Hadi | August 14, 2009 1:57 AM
I think that it is also a case of people being equally pro Google as being anti Microsoft. I am convinced that Google has created a space in the market with apps other than search i.e. gmail gcal g-etc. g-etc. that was lamely attempted by yahoo, Ms and others.
I use Google aps., but would like to see some competition.
I just wish the competition would come from somewhere else and not Microsoft!
Posted by Thinus Kriel | August 14, 2009 5:51 AM
"Remember, Microsoft was not so reviled, so repugnant to people until it was found by the DOJ to be a monopolist."
I don't think it was the opinion of the DOJ that caused the shift in attitude, but rather the actions of MS when they became large enough to behave as if they could drive, instead of respond to, the consumer. It was peoples attitudes and complaints about this behavior which caused the DOJ to investigate in the first place...
Posted by jimG | August 14, 2009 8:58 AM
My opinion is , whoever will come into search market will become data hungry so that they can improve their search. either its microsoft or google or anybody else. but writing articles that people will leave google and microsoft search is cool doesn't have anything to do with it. if you think this is a problem then write about solution and what you think about how this problem can be solved. end of the day we need a good search engine so we should think about the ways by which we can make search more secure not that bing is cool and people will leave google. tomorrow microsoft will also do the same thing which google is doing right now.
Posted by AD | August 14, 2009 9:02 AM
JimG:
It's certainly a great chicken-or-egg debate. But I believe if people had any doubts about MSFT before the trial, the DOJ's case against them made up their minds. What did it for me were subsequent articles in Wired and elsewhere where MSFT executives seemed so aghast at the findings against the company. It's like they went from blasé about the allegations to shocked that they had been found guilty. As is the case with personal addictions, Microsoft's gluttony led them to denial.
Posted by Clint Boulton
| August 14, 2009 9:41 AM
AD:
Microsoft needs to keep doing what they're ding with Bing, which is great, and needs to pray the Microhoo deal passes muster. If it doesn't, MSFT is in big trouble.
Google needs to be extra careful. Varney is after the company; any little thing Google can do to foster good will with consumers, privacy advocates and antitrust regulators is vital to keep these groups happy.
One idea, which may not be feasible: total data anonymization. But I DON'T believe Google should stop branching out to new markets with Android, Chrome, Chrome OS. Those are important to Google's growth online and as a company.
Posted by Clint Boulton
| August 14, 2009 9:46 AM
Clint:
Now I see what point you are trying to make. Which I think is correct. Cool. Thanks.
Posted by AD | August 14, 2009 10:28 AM
Big Brother Google gives me the creeps. In both IE8 and Firefox, Bing is now my default search provider.
Posted by JohnJ | August 16, 2009 9:52 AM