The Wow Factory Blog

The ongoing feud between Google and Facebook has recently ramped up a notch with the news that Facebook is soon to work with Bing.

This partnership is a big step forward within social networking, as it will allow search to become social. The idea behind this concept is that Facebook search will be powered by Bing, and that users will be more inclined to click on links their friends have 'liked'. This is partially true, as I know myself that if one of my friends has used a link that they have found interesting and useful, then I would also be more likely to check it out.

I also think though that maybe this partnership has partly happened to annoy the bosses at Google. Google's market share has slowed in recent years, with the introduction of Facebook and other such social networking sites, where users have the opportunity to ask friends or look on the Facebook pages of companies rather than just 'Googling it'. And as Facebook increase its market share, and deny Google any shares within the company, I almost feel that this is Mark Zuckerburg's way of holding up a couple of fingers.

This is also a very clever move by Bing (formally MSN and Windows Live Search). Bing is far smaller than Google, and even their rebrand from Live Search to Bing in 2009 did nothing of any sustenance which enabled them to take on the Google giants; its market share is a mere 2.98% in the UK in comparison to Google's 90%.
So, why not team up with the biggest social networking site currently in existence - smart move Steve Ballmer. Bravo.

I think that it is safe to say that only in time will we see if this increases the market share of Bing, makes Facebook your one stop shop, and leaves Google crying. In the meantime though, Google should not be worrying themselves too much, after all, no-one 'Bings it'.