14 DAY TRIAL // A new version of Bing for Mobile was released for handset running under Google's Android operating system, Redmond-based software giant Microsoft has just announced. The new flavor of the application packs a nice range of enhancements, including new features such as “What’s Nearby,” “Bookmark Images,” “Expand Your Search,” or “Search, Share, Decide and Book.”
Until recently, the Bing for Mobile Android application was made available for download only for Verizon customers who owned devices running under Google's mobile operating system.
However, Microsoft decided a while ago to make it available for all US users of Android, and the app is now available for download on all all major U.S. wireless carrier networks, via the Android Market.
With the new release of the application, Microsoft seems set to offer users far more functionalities than just search, or other features that would be available when accessing Bing on the browser of a mobile phone.
As stated above, the list of new features in the updated software solution includes:
What’s Nearby: Bing will automatically detect “what’s nearby” and present dynamic and full category search pages.
Bookmark Images: We know how much you love Bing images, and now you can bookmark any image result from the Web to the device.
Expand Your Search: The Search Widget allows you to search third party apps (e.g. Yelp), in addition to contacts, apps, audio files and the Web. (Only apps with registered data can be surfaced in search results.)
Search, Share, Decide and Book: To make planning a night out easier, share search results with friends using any loaded app that can accept and share content by using the “share” command.
This feature is backed by integration with OpenTable and GrubHub. Basically, this means that users would be able to make a reservation straight from the Bing for Mobile search results, without having to fire up another application for that.
Bing for Mobile is already available on other mobile operating systems out there too, including Microsoft's own Windows Phone 7 platform, Apple's iPhone iOS, or RIM's BlackBerry platform. The Android flavor of the application can be downloaded via the Android Market.