14 DAY TRIAL // Microsoft is attempting to create some Twitter buzz about the new social networking features that have been introduced to Bing. In this regard, the company announced the launch of the @Bing “Friends Don’t Let Friends Decide Alone” Twitter giveaway.
The sweepstakes are focused on Twitter, even though the social features that the company is referring to are actually from Facebook.
In mid-May 2011, the software giant catalyzed a social evolution for its search / decision engine, with the addition of Facebook Features to Bing.
“Recently, we launched a fresh batch of exciting new social features. Now you can receive personalized search results based on the opinions of your friends on Facebook. To celebrate the launch, we’re giving five lucky @bing followers $100 towards a night out with friends,” a member of the Bing team said.
Facebook enhancements for Bing are designed to allow users to tap insight from friends and family, as well as from additional Facebook users when searching.
The move is illustrative of the fact that Microsoft believes search to be more than just about algorithms, enabling Facebook data to influence the results returned to users, and allowing them to make better decisions based on the information they share with friends.
“Today (June 1st), we’re going to tweet a question from the @bing Twitter handle asking what decisions you make with your friends. All you have to do to be eligible to win is reply to the question and include the #decisions hashtag,” the Bing team representative added.
“Of the people who reply with an answer along with the #decisions hashtag, we’ll randomly select 5 lucky winners during the following time period: Noon – Midnight ET (9am – 9pm PT) on June 1st. Good luck and let the tweeting begin! Be sure to Retweet and tell all your friends so you can guilt them into spending that $100 with you if they win.”
Users should read the Official Rules and some are bound to be disappointed seeing as participation in the sweepstakes is limited to US citizens.