14 DAY TRIAL // Results provided by Microsoft's Bing search engine are no longer displayed by Facebook, after the social network implemented its very own solution that allows users to search for past comments and posts of their friends.
Microsoft and Facebook have an ongoing partnership that also includes the Bing search engine, and the social network says that, although results are no longer displayed on its website, the agreement between the two companies goes on in other areas.
Bing is currently the second most-used search engine in the United States and Europe, holding a share of approximately 20 percent, obviously after search giant Google.
Microsoft has gradually improved its market share in the search industry, but it still has a long way to go until it actually manages to become a powerful alternative to Google.
Microsoft tight-lipped on what happened
Redmond has long invested in the social side of Bing, so it's a bit surprising to see Facebook dropping it search engine. Microsoft hasn't yet commented on this new direction embraced by Facebook, but we've reached out to the company for a word on this and will update the article when we get an answer.
Facebook, on the other hand, says that it's important for users to find content they shared on the social network, but the deal with Microsoft will go on in other areas.
“We’re focused on helping people find what’s been shared with them on Facebook,” a company spokesperson explained.
Search deal signed in 2010
Microsoft and Facebook joined forces to power the social network searches in October 2010 to display friends' recommendations to online search, thus making full use of Bing's increasing focus for social activities.
At the same time, Facebook implemented Bing's search capabilities to find old friends and connect with new ones using Microsoft's technology.
“When you search on Bing, rather than showing you all the Matthew Kims out there, Bing finds and provides the results most relevant to you based on your Facebook connections—those with whom you have mutual friends will now show up first,” the social network said at that point.
Obviously, losing Facebook as an important search partner is a major step backwards for Microsoft, as the company still struggles to improve the market share of its own search engine. Redmond will most likely reconsider its search engine strategy in the coming weeks, so expect more news on this to be provided anytime soon.
