“The comment alone may not be a big deal. Microsoft executives from Bill Gates on down have said nice things about the iPhone, for instance,” Dudley reports. “But Ballmer’s statement was deliberate, and it comes as Microsoft and Apple are reportedly close to adding Bing search to the iPhone. BusinessWeek on Jan. 19 reported the companies were in extended talks about replacing Google as the iPhone’s default search service.”
Dudley writes, “So I’m taking Ballmer’s App Store praise as another sign the relationship between Microsoft and Apple is warming.”
Full article here.
Yeah, right. The chances of that happening are about as good as the chances of James Careron’s ex wife upstaging him at the Oscars. HA!!!
We’ll I’ll says that my address does exist on Microsoft’s Maps and Mapquest, but not on Google Maps.
I’ll just replace bing with Google if they do that.
Replacing Google with Bing is entirely plausible. At the very least, having a convenient option is even more plausible. Google’s Android competition and Google’s major faux pas in user privacy (China, Buzz, login password security for Gmail) lead me to say Google is vulnerable. If Bing can improve user interface and search results, I’d be open to a switch.
maybe they will add it as an alternative search engine choice but not as the default
google and apple are not at war with each other as some pundits like to claim
google and apple have very different businesses
@ Tommy Boy
I’ve been lost with directions from Google, Mapquest, and MS Maps
No. That will not do at all.
@Tetrachloride
You want to use Microsoft search as your primary search? Surprised that you say that. I think Bing will be shut down in a few months. No market share and what’s the point? How about Microsoft concentrates and focuses on making a better OS or something?
So our enemy’s enemy is our friend? But what if our enemy’s enemy is also OUR enemy?
I’m confuzed. Is this good news or bad news?
The funny thing of course is that even if the default search provider was changed to Bing I bet the vast majority of iPhone users wouldn’t even notice….
MDN Magic Word: “special” as in what’s so special about Bing anyway?
Google may have doomed thier company by making enemies out of apple and steve jobs, if those two powerhouses were too team up against on company I would be a scared investor and start selling of shares quickly.
Swear I just saw a pig flying!
If Bing becomes the better search engine, then I would expect that it would happen. But we all know what chance MS has of producing a better product than the one they are copying.
Apple may have something to gain by using Bing as a threat to Google, but Apple has absolutely Nothing to gain by actually switching to Bing.
@HMCIV
I appreciated your comment even if nobody else did!
I’ve found Bing to be very unsatisfactory.
I’ can’t imagine why apple would default to it.
I like Google search, but not their ability to track my searches. What I would prefer is a method of rendering Google unable to track me and link my searches together. Its called privacy. How hard can it be?
Why do you guys all say Bing search isn’t as good as Google? Have you actually done tests? Have you been scientific? It seems to me about the same.
And personally, I like the backgrounds and info that Bing provides every day. It opens the mind a bit and I find myself clicking on the info zones… It’s growing on me.
As Mac users we have every right to distrust MS… but open your mind to Bing before you close your opinions. It’s NOT Windows!
Compare the Bing iPhone app to the Google app. Just use them both for a few minutes and Decide™.
The Google app is slow and terrible and takes forever to switch back over to Safari once you actually find something.
The Bing app is much better looking all around, and the imagery is always top notch.
I say go for it, Apple.
BOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!
@ DESuserIGN,
You answered your own post, why you don’t like Google search, after you said you liked it. Dude, wake up and listen to yourself!
Privacy is not an option with the Googling eye on you at all times.
EWWWWWWW.
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Not!
I’ve “tried” to use Bung in my corporate environment and found that I needed another search engine just to search the results. Yeah, that’s innovative
Give me Google any day!
Ballmer’s comment doesn’t show any global warming, but it might be indicating a climate change. Wonder if Al Gore has been talking to him?
That’s disgusting. You won’t find anything to do with Microsoft on my phone.
No MacDailyNews take? I really don’t see this happening. I wouldn’t be surprised if they add it as an option for search, but not replace Google as the default that comes on new iPhones. Why would Apple do that? Just because some person at BusinessWeek said it would happen everyone just thinks it’s true? This is not worth reporting on.
I hate Cameron and Avatard and as such was SO pleased when his ex and Hurt Locker wiped the floor and left him with three obvious yet less important prizes.
The only way I could be happier is if Up won Best Picture… But I was sure it wouldn’t win so… meh…
One opinion writer at the Seattle Times (where Microsoft rules) makes a personal observation. This is not news.
Bing filters out anti MS news.
Google does not filter out anti Google news.
Bing lies.
This “enemy of my enemy is my friend” philosophy seems to be very typically American (and is, by the way, the reason why Americans are now fighting the Taliban; after all, they trained and armed them against the Soviets in the 70s, under the “enemy of my enemy” doctrine…).
However, if this is just a search engine, it may have limited long-term consequences for Apple, other than smearing the pristine image of an anti-Microsoft corporation. While it is true that the largest Mac software developer outside Apple is Microsoft, Apple’s consistent image out there is one of a fierce MS rival. Adopting (voluntarily, no less) MS’s search engine as the default for Apple’s fastest growing product line will clearly be seen by many as a bit of a capitulation to the evil empire.
Still, as I said, the actual consequences will likely be minimal at worst.
Now if Microsoft were to sell Bing to Apple, and it was after all a good search engine then I would see that as something with strong positives.
Apple could drive the market share upwards methinks.
It might not switch to Bing as default search engine, but it might add Bing. Currently, only Google and Yahoo are present.
This could be a warning from Apple to Google. A warning that Google is going into Apple’s territory, while Apple is not entering Google’s.
There are differences in search results. Google is still the best in finding obscure results. But for mobile search, it doesn’t really matter. Anything that you’ll ever need to search on a 3.5” screen would have hundreds or thousands of hits anyway.
It will tarnish the ‘Anti-Microsoft’ image.
I feel dirty already.
“For Apple to win- it’s doesn’t mean Microsoft has to lose.” —
ahhhh…. but it would be nice.
If it serves Apple interest to bring Microsoft to the table to contain Google encroachment on Apple mobile business, then do it. It’s time for Apple to return the knife that the schmuck Schmidt has cowardly placed in Apple back. Bing is a decent search engine and perfectly alright for my use.
Can’t wait. Don’t let the door hit you on the back of the head, Google.
@Predrag
“This “enemy of my enemy is my friend” philosophy seems to be very typically American”
Uh, now I know you just Google your answers.
It’s an ancient proverb that means that solely because two parties have a common enemy, they are friends. Often described as an Arab proverb, there is also an identical Chinese proverb and both may be an extension of another Chinese proverb that says, “It is good to strike the serpent’s head with your enemy’s hand.”
In Exodus, chapter 23:22, it’s said, “I will be an enemy to your enemies and will oppose those who oppose you.”
In the Bible, Matthew chapter 22, the Pharisees and the Herodians united against Jesus. Even though they hated each other, they had a common enemy.
Even if they do this, it is not a sign the relationship between Microsoft and Apple is warming.
It’s a sign the relationship between Google and Apple is chilling.
Sorry, but I don’t let politics determine my search choice. Google the company may piss me off, but I still love Google search, and from what I’ve heard, Bing pretty much sucks in comparison.
If Apple changes the search default, I’ll change it right back.
——RM
I will switch to BING the minute it gets better than Google and not a second sooner.
Not gonna happen
Did Steve make another Deal with the Devil?
Is Schmidt Google’s Sculley?
I think if anything Apple will add it as an option. Let the user choose.
Divide and conquer.
So the MS software engineers can build a capable search but the MS software engineers can’t build an OS as told by Apple in their I’m a Mac, I’m a PC tv ads?
Google, Bing, Bing, Google.
Do Evil, Do No Evil, Do Evil, Bla bla….
Which is which, these days?
Ixquick is the search engine to use.
If you don’t know it, Bing it or Google it, then use it!
Use Scroogle, not Google. Or Ixquick.
Just because Google makes some trouble? Come on! Apple embracing Bing would just be like the pope becoming buddist!
*sigh*
I guess, as they say, “Hold your friends close, and your enemies closer.”
Whatever. Steve has a plan. He hasn’t failed us yet. Remember when we all got violently ill the year Bill Gates face showed up on a Keynote monitor? Well…it was for a reason.
Could Apple use that huge data center in NC to do their OWN search engine? Google moved into the phone space, Apple can now feel free to move into the search space.
Maybe Apple will BUY Bing from MS?
Looks like it’s time to get a Google phone. WM 7 and Android are running laps around the iPhone already in the feature department and now they’re dumping off a good search engine and replacing it with crap for Microshaft. Apple needs to look around and figure out that the cars in their rearview mirror aren’t just coming up on them, but lapping them.
@ Billy Bob Gaits
Thank you for contributing nothing to this thread.
Now Fu@k Off You Troll.
i dont like bing, i dont want to use bing, i use google, that is all.
Maybe they could trade one favour for another.
We take Bing – you scrap Silverlight and help us get rid of Flash…
i dont care what ballmer and jobs decide…
10 seconds after my iphone switches from google to bing ill just hit the settings and switch it back.
Steve to Ballmer: Hold me
Ballmer to Steve: just for a little while after I finish. Now shush, trust me this won’t hurt a bit.
Sergei Brin from Google peeping in the window (pun intended): Eeew that’s just plain wrong, catching sight of Ballmer’s baboon balls.
Apple should do their own search engine, spotlight is already the best offline search engine adding online search would be nothing hard for Apple to do, Question how many of you do a search and go to the third or fourth page first for results? Apple can do better.
It’s Yahoo for me in dear old blighty. I don’t like google because when it does a search it’s gives you hundreds of trivial results simply because your search phrase is in there somewhere.
With Yahoo you get a matter of 4 pages to check through, these 4 pages giving you the most relevant.
Yahoo set as main search on my iPhone and on both home computers and happy as larry.
Google and Bing? Bleurr!
Tt: “Not gonna happen”
1994 Switch to #1 enemy IBM’s PPC “Not gonna happen”
1997 Evil Microsoft to invest money on Apple “Not gonna happen”
2005 Switch to dark side, Intel chips “Not gonna happen”
Each switch has proven good for Apple.
No! Not while M$ continues to think it is all about them.
I’m not using Bing in a blue fit – forget it!
I trust Google to deliver search results that matter. Bing just tries to sell me something.
Forget it Steve.
I like Bing’s imagry, but the user experience is typical Microsoft on the browser version.
Make a large window of Bing Maps, scroll around with the grabber hand. BLACK BLOCKS! It won’t refresh if you slide over to see the rest, until you almost completely replace the image in the window, THEN it will scroll. Unacceptable for Apple folks.
I really hate all of Microsoft’s products that I’ve tried with one exception… Bing.
It’s actually very well done.
Why doesn’t Apple just create it’s own search engine? That would be my choice.
It’s amusing that Apple thinks that Microsoft is the lesser of two evils. Or Apple is extracting revenge on Google. Sounds like a good case study for Harvard Business School.