Bing Watch . . . Just Bing It!

All in one portal, search, news, local and social networking: Bing’s sister MSN adds more social signals into its portal by aggregating breaking news stories and hot topics from Facebook, Twitter, and other sources to compete with mainstream media

Bing’s sister MSN portal launched a new social aggregator called msnNOW.  In order to compete with the mainstream media, the sub-portal site aggregates breaking news stories and hot topics from Facebook, Twitter, Bing, and BreakingNews.com and highlights the most current trends in real-time.  With its in-house editors and team of experts, msnNOW will provide more insights on web’s hottest stories and topics.

The concept of all in one portal will also help to increase more visitors to Microsoft’s Internet properties.  New users will add more web traffics and will be benefiting to Bing, the Doing Engine which is now the number two search engine in America. 

According to Microsoft press release, MSN portal captured a large share of global visitors on monthly basis.  Bing’s sister MSN now has about 520 million visitors per month.  MSN portal also serves 48 markets and translates into 27 world’s languages.

(Image: msnNOW)

Bing Rewards team offers a new monthly sweepstakes, as members will have a chance to win a home entertainment system or a $500 gift card from REI, submissions will end on February 29, 2012

Bing Rewards team is giving away several interesting prizes for the month of February.  The biggest prize is a home entertainment system that includes an Xbox game console, Kinect motion controller, a 50-inc plasma TV with speakers system (this could be worth about $2,500).  Members must redeem 40 credits for 1 entry for the system, or 80 credits for 10 entries.

Other interesting prizes for February’s sweepstakes include three $500 gift cards and a one-year Hulu Plus access.  Members will have three chances to win a $500 gift card from REI, the outdoor activities store.  Members must redeem 30 credits for 1 entry for the gift card, or 60 credits for 10 entries.

Bing Rewards team is also running a new type of sweepstakes starting today until March 11, and gives away 100,000 Bing Rewards credits.  Members must follow the team’s Twitter account @BingRewards to get updates. 

(Images: left, Bing Rewards; right, facebook.com/bing; bottom, Twitter.com)

TV commercial featuring a celebrity and pop music endorsement propelled the “Doing Engine” to grab some eyeballs during the second most watched Grammy telecast that was aired on Sunday night, February 12, 2012

Starting the new year of 2012, the “Doing Engine” launched a series of ads featuring celebrity, pop music, and sport icons. The former decision engine team is now highlighting Bing as a “Doing Engine.” One of those ads featuring double-Grammy nominee Wiz Khalifa was showed during the 54th annual Grammy Awards.

This year’s event was the second most watched Grammy telecast that was aired on Sunday night, February 12, 2012. Citing Nielsen's preliminary ratings, billboard.com reported that Sunday's CBS broadcast was viewed by over 39 million people. The “Doing Engine” appears to grab a ton of eyeballs during this year’s event.

GreenLight, a Corbis’s division that handles media, licensing, copyrights for talent, released their findings of the world's biggest TV music event. According to GreenLight, marketers have increased the use of entertainment content during the 2012 telecast over 2011. In a press release one day after the event, David Reeder, vice president of GreenLight noted that "In an attempt to break out of the shadow of its corporate 'parent', Microsoft, Bing taps into the very hip style of Wiz Khalifa to demonstrate it is not your parents' search engine. More than just borrowing his music, Bing goes the slice of life route, letting Wiz tell us his story of growing from young upstart to established artist - much in the same way that Bing has quickly managed to grab meaningful market share after just a few short years in market."

(Video: Bing is for Doing, with Wiz Khalifa, click here to watch via YouTube)

Doing Well Engine: Bing increased to 15.2% share of searches in January 2012 in America, Google also went up to 66.2% share, while Yahoo dropped to 14.1% share

Bing continued to slow-but-stable gaining search engine share in January 2012 in America.  According to the latest web traffic data provided by comScore, the Doing Engine increased to 15.2% share of searches, compared to December 2011 which was at 15.1% (or an increase of 0.1% share).

Bing’s rival Google also went up in January and captured 66.2% share, compared to 65.9% share in December (or an increase of 0.3% share).

Bing’s partner Yahoo dropped to 14.1% share in January, compared to 14.5% share in December (or a drop of 0.4% share).

The Search Alliance combo totaled 29.3% share in January, compared to 29.6% share in December (or a drop of 0.3% share).

(Table: comScore)

See you again in Barcelona: Bing’s parent to launch Windows 8 operating system "Consumer Preview" version on Wednesday, February 29, 2012, at Mobile World Congress

Bing’s parent is set to launch the "Consumer Preview" version of Windows 8 operating system on Wednesday, February 29, 2012, at Mobile World Congress.  Tech watchers believe that Barcelona is suitable place for the announcement as Windows 8 OS is very close resemblance to Windows Phone 8 mobile OS. 

Two years ago, Windows Phone 7 mobile OS was also announced at the same mobile conference by CEO Steve Ballmer.  Last year at the same conference, Nokia made headline news as the Finland-based company announced a long-term partnership with Microsoft to utilize Windows Phone OS on all new smartphones.

The brand new Windows 8 operating system was introduced during the first day of June, 2011, at the D9 Conference which took place at an executive golf course resort in Rancho Palos Verdes, California by Windows and Windows Live Engineering President Steven Sinofsky.  Later in mid-September 2011, developers from around the world were able to check out the Windows 8 in Anaheim, California, during Build conference.  Then, just few weeks before last year's Christmas, a bunch of developers met in San Francisco on December 6, 2011, as Microsoft people showed them Windows Store and urged them to develop Metro style apps (with 80% rev share).

The Consumer Preview “beta version” of Windows 8 will likely to include the popular Metro style applications.  The new OS will be benefiting Bing’s users as they can develop Metro style apps and start selling them thru the new Windows Store, while users from around the world can download "paid" or "free" games and applications from the Store.

(Image: Microsoft)

Bing’s search partner announces management shake-up which could jeopardize the future of the Search Alliance: chairman and three Yahoo’s board members will not stand for re-election

Just one week into the new year of 2012, Bing’s search alliance partner hired former PayPal president Scott Thompson as its new CEO.  Then, three weeks ago Yahoo’s co-founder Jerry Yang quitted his job from the board and severed his ties with the search engine pioneer.   The Stanford University alumni later said that he wanted to pursue other business interests.

Today, Tuesday February 7, 2012, Yahoo Chairman Roy Bostock and three old-timers of the company are quitting their jobs.  Bostock announced the management shake-up in a letter to shareholders as he wrote ". . .  Mr. Joshi, Mr. Kern, Mr. Wilson and I [Bostock] have volunteered not to stand for re-election at the next shareholders' meeting."

The latest management shake-up for the Silicon Valley-based company could jeopardize the future of Search Alliance as Bing and Yahoo had signed a 10-year global agreement in July 2009.  The new team of leadership could also threaten its current negotiations with several big pockets investors who are interested to buy Yahoo Asian assets.  Those assets include Yahoo Japan and Alibaba.com web auction site in China.

Bing’s partner Wolfram|Alpha to add “Pro” option for users around the world on Wednesday, February 8, 2012, as subscriptions per month for all type of users at $4.99 (except for students at $2.99)

Bing’s partner Wolfram|Alpha will add more features on to the “knowledge engine” platform this Wednesday, February 8, 2012.  The new option will be called “Wolfram|Alpha Pro.” 

Citing Stephen Wolfram, the knowledge engine's founder, zdnet.com reported that the "Pro" option will include features such as:

• Users can create interactive output using computable document format (CDF)
• More support on graphics formats include 3D geometry
• More personalized output of images by adding title, re-size zoom-in-out, and changing color
• Users can download raw data

(Image: Wolfram|Alpha homepage)

Stronger social signals: Bing team is working hard to provide more social signals by integrating data from Facebook and Twitter to compete with Google+ new feature “Search Plus Your World” (SPYW)

Bing has been keeping a low profile to avoid retaliation while Google+ launched a new feature which is known as “Search Plus Your World” (SPYW) in the second week of January 2012.  Bing added social signals into its search results almost 1 ½ years ago by integrating data from Facebook and Twitter.  The world’s largest search engine mines its own dataset to power Google+ search results with SPYW, while the big pockets Bing’s parent must pay Facebook and Twitter to get those social data.  With a ton of money, everything is possible for Bing, as the “Doing Engine” is now the only search engine in the planet that has exclusive deals to access all type of social data from both Facebook and Twitter.

Early today, Liz Gannes of All Things D published an article as she interviewed Bing Director Stefan Weitz.  Based on the interview, it appears that Bing team is working really hard to add stronger social signals into the “Doing Engine” soon. 

While the progress has been slow as Weitz said in the article “…we are taking this pretty slow, and there’s a pretty good reason for that,” Bing team sees a significant impact into the division’s bottom line.  Citing Stefan Weitz, in fact by incorporating social signal into search results has helped Bing the get more users to click on links including pay-per-click ads, as Gannes wrote “…the click-through rate goes up substantially.”

At the DomainFest Global Conference, Fairmont Miramar Hotel & Bungalows, Santa Monica, January 31 (Tue) to Feb 2, 2012 (Thu)

The BingWatch team will be attending the DomainFest Global Conference that is now taking place at the five-star Fairmont Miramar Hotel & Bungalows in Santa Monica.  Conference will be held from January 31 (Tue) to Feb 2, 2012 (Thu).  The first day’s agenda include discussion about the new TLDs, social media networking trends, mobile advertising, and local advertising.

(Image: DomainFest.com)

Social layer and mobile phone: the growing important of using mobile phones to call a friend to get advice on making a purchase decision while shopping in a brick-and-mortar store

In its collaboration with Facebook, Bing has been pulling data from friends and family members to help its shoppers to make a better purchase decision since October 2010, while Google is trying to copycat Bing’s effort with a project called “Search Plus Your World” that was launched in early January 2012.  As the “Doing Engine” has been working hard to add social layer into the search results by combining advices from friends, the latest findings from the Pew Research Center’s Internet & American Life Project could prove that Bing is on the right track.

Under the management of the Pew Research Center, the Pew Research Center’s Internet & American Life Project just published some findings on the important of a phone call to a friend when making purchasing decisions.  According to the study, 38% of cellphone subscribers used their phone to call a friend while shopping in a brick-and-mortar store seeking their friend’s advices about a purchase decision.  The report also shows about 24% to 25% of cellphone subscribers used their phone to check out reviews and comparing the price of a product online while they were in a brick-and-mortar store.

(Chart:  The Pew Research Center’s Internet & American Life Project)

Bing Rewards offers a new sweepstakes and will end on January 31, 2012: a two-night trip for two persons plus free airfare to Orlando, a Kinect for Xbox 360 bundle, and 30 gift cards of $50 from Tango

Bing Rewards team offers several prizes for the “Doing Engine” users with a brand new sweepstakes. Users must redeem credits for entry by January 31, 2012.

A list of prizes include a two-night trip for two persons plus free airfare to Orlando, a Kinect for Xbox 360 bundle, and 30 gift cards of $50 from Tango. Only users who live in America legally and 13-year old can submit entry to the sweepstakes.

To enter the draw, users can redeem their Bing Rewards credits to get a single chance or multiple chances. Here are some examples on the unit count for each entry:

• 1 entry for the Orlando trip will cost 35 credits, but redeeming 70 credits, users can get 10 chances
• 1 entry for the Xbox bundle trip will cost 20 credits, but with 40 credits, users can get 10 entries

(Image: Bing Rewards)

Pirate Engines: Britain’s entertainment industry groups and copyrights holders accused Bing and Google search engines providing search results to illegal copies of music and movies online

An article published by guardian.co.uk early this morning which later cited by many tech bloggers showed that major Britain’s entertainment industry groups and copyrights holders are condemning Bing and Google for providing easy access to illegal content via their search results. 

In contrast, the entertainment groups believe that search engines make it so hard for users to search for legal music and movies online. 

In the article guardian.co.uk noted that copyrights holders are urging the Britain government to supervising or censoring Bing and Google search results.  They also asked top search engine companies to provide search results that follow the Code of Practice such as stop indexing websites that offer illegal contents.  The Guardian added “… [copyright group] urges the government to introduce a voluntary body that would remove rogue websites from internet search results.”

(Movie poster: “Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides” by Disney)

Bing Maps adds several new features including traffic incidents reports (i.e., road construction and car collision) and points of interest (POI) data sources

Bing Maps team announced several new features for the popular mapping section early this morning.  According to the team blog post, those new features include:

• Traffic incidents reports: this feature shows road construction and car collision reports in America.
• Points of interest (POI) data sources: the feature helps users to find points of interest (POI) while driving in a local street or freeway or highway using Bing Maps.

(Image: Bing team)

The Search Alliance Update: Bing sent a $48 million check to Yahoo for transition and search operating cost during Q4-2011

With the 10-year global deal that was signed by former Yahoo! CEO Carol Bartz and Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer in July 2009, Bing continued to send a reimbursement check to Yahoo! on a quarterly basis.  After the Wall Street closed on Tuesday January 24, 2012, Yahoo! announced their Q4-2011 financial results. 

On the earnings report, Yahoo stated that they received a $48 million check from Bing team.  The money was for taking care of the search transition from Yahoo! Search to Bing platform during the latest quarter.   However, Yahoo also noticed that payments from Bing will soon stop as all Yahoo! Search is now fully powered by the “Doing Engine.”

The “Doing Engine” is a Gold Sponsor and will present at SMX West at San Jose McEnery Convention Center, February 28 to March 1, 2012, as the team offers a 10% discount code

Search Marketing Expo (SMX) West 2012 will take place at San Jose McEnery Convention Center from February 28 to March 1, 2012.  This year’s February will have 29 days.  The event will run from Tuesday to Thursday.  The popular Silicon Valley’s convention center is located at 150 West San Carlos St., San Jose, CA 95110.

With a new tag line as the “Doing Engine” that was launched last weekend, Bing is also the Gold Sponsor for this year event.  The SMX organizer will have over 130 domestic and International experts and speakers in the field of search marketing.  At the same time, the Doing Engine will bring a team of speakers including its famous senior product manager, Duane Forrester.  In order to get more fans, Bing team offers a 10% discount code and they must inserting “SMX10Bing” during the registration.  Based on the early bird rate (until January 28), an all access pass will cost about $1,445.

(Logo: SMX West 2012)

The former “Decision Engine” introduces a new tag line, “Bing is For Doing,” as the new campaign will debut during the NFC Championship game between NY Giants vs. SF 49ers on Sunday (January 22) and then will air on ESPN’s X Games coverage

Bing marketing team is working hard to tweak its slogan for the number two search engine in America.  According to Bing team blog, the team will debut a new ad featuring American snowboarder Kevin Pearce this Sunday (January 22) during the NFC Championship game between NY Giants versus SF 49ers.  Then, the new ad will be shown on ESPN’s X Games coverage.

On the new campaign, Bing will show a new slogan "Bing is for Doing."  Since Bing’s launch in early June 2009, users referred to Bing as a "decision engine.”  We hope the new slogan will not confused with famous Nike's "Just Do It" tag line.

(Image: Bing is for Doing)

Bing sees light at the end of the tunnel with double-digit revenue growth: the Online Services Division reported revenue of $784 million or an increase of 10% from one year ago

After the Wall Street stock market closed on Thursday, January 19, 2012, Bing’s parent announced quarterly revenue of $20.89 billion for Fiscal Year 2012 Quarter 2 that ended December 31, 2011.  Compared to the prior year period, FY11-Q2 revenue was $19.95 billion, this was an increase of 5% from one year ago.

Some highlights from Microsoft’s earnings report:

• Operating income for FY12-Q2 was $7.99 billion, compared to FY11-Q2 which was $8.17 billion. 
• Net income for the latest quarter was $6.62 billion, compared to one year ago which was $6.63 billion.
• Diluted earnings per share for FY12-Q2 were $0.78 per share, compared to FY11-Q2 which was $0.77 per share.

Bing’s Online Services Division reported revenue of $784 million or an increase of 10% from one year ago.  Bing’s parent praised the decision engine's organic market share in America which grew to 15.1%.  On the earnings report, Bing’s parent also noted that the Search Alliance with Yahoo had captured about 27% share of search market in America.

(Slide: Microsoft’s earnings report FY12-Q2)

The decision engine and its partners Yahoo and Facebook plus its rival Google to permanently enable Internet Protocol version 6 (IPv6) on Wednesday, June 6, 2012

On Wednesday, June 6, 2012, the decision engine will join its partners Yahoo and Facebook and its rival Google to permanently enable Internet Protocol version 6 (IPv6).  From that day on, some websites will be using double stacked support which allowing access on both IPv4 and IPv6.   On the same day, as per Internet Society who organized the switch, several top Internet service providers (ISPs) from around the world will also join Bing, Yahoo, Facebook, and Google to permanently enable IPv6 for their products and services.

Bing joined the test flight day of IPv6 on June 8, 2011.  The last year’s test was cheered by many companies and was regarded very successful experiment. 

IPv6 was tested for the first time last year to boost Internet grow as networks run out of IPv4 numbers.  IPv6 will solve Internet issues for a long run.  As all websites will permanently enable IPv6, Internet will continue to be attached into more devices for communication purposes. With more numbers available via IPv6, this will ensure users stay connected online worldwide.

(Logo: worldipv6launch.org)

Bye-bye Yang: Bing’s search partner Yahoo! announces the resignation of its co-founder, former CEO and board member

Bing’s search partner Yahoo! co-founder Jerry Yang, former CEO (from June 2007 to January 2009) and board member resigned from the company’s board of directors and from all executive positions starting on Tuesday January 17, 2012, as per press release by Yahoo.

As one of the top Asian executives during the early day of Internet business, Yang co-founded Yahoo! with David Filo in 1995 while both were students at Palo Alto-based Stanford University.  After 17 years with the search engine pioneer company, Yang is severing all ties with the Silicon Valley-based company.  Yahoo went public in 1996.

Bing’s Search Alliance recently appointed former PayPal’s President Scott Thompson as the new Chief Executive Officer.  Just few weeks before 2011 Christmas, several shareholders have asked Yang to resign due to conflict of interest of Yang being member of Yahoo's board of directors.  At the same time, tech watchers rumored that Yang was trying to become the connector with other investors who were interested to take the company private.

Bing’s parent retains the third spot as world’s most valuable brand in 2011 with a total value of $59 billion, while Google maintains the fourth spot with a total value of $55 billion

Interbrand just published their annual report on the world’s most valuable business assets.  The report called Best Global Brands 2011 provided a table ranking 100 global brands.  Soft-drink and soda makers Coca-Cola retained its title as the world’s number one most valuable brand with an estimated total value of $71.8 billion.

Bing’s parent was ranked as the third most valuable brand of the world in 2011, with an estimated total value of $59.1 billion, making it bigger than Google and Apple companies.  Although in general Microsoft’s brand value dropped about 3% from one year ago.

Google was ranked as the fourth most valuable brand, with an estimated total value of $55.3 billion.  The difference between Microsoft and Google was only $4 billion in term of brand value.  In contrast with Microsoft, Google’s brand value increased about 27% from one year ago.

(Table of top 100 global brands in 2011 published by Interbrand.com)

Bing is the default decision engine on Nokia Lumia 900 smartphone running on Microsoft Windows Phone 7.5 operating system (coming to AT&T on March 18, 2012)

Bing’s parent and its partner Nokia announced a new type of smartphone running on Microsoft Windows Phone 7.5 operating system early this week at Las Vegas CES conference.  The new phone will be called Lumia 900 and of course the new phone features will be defaulted with Bing as the decision engine. 

Several tech bloggers including pocketnow.com reported that the new phone is coming to AT&T in March 2012.   Tech bloggers cited a Nokia Developer Newsletter which was published on January 12, 2012, and stated “The Nokia Lumia 900 phone runs Microsoft Windows Phone 7.5. It is the biggest and fastest smartphone yet. And it will become available exclusively through AT&T in March.” 

Later, citing information from a webcasting hosted by Paul Thurrott of twit.tv, blog site engadget.com noted the exact date of Lumia 900 release date will be on March 18, 2012.

(Image: Nokia Lumia 900)

Bing is the official decision engine of the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah, as celebrities and festival-goers from the independent film community will gather starting on January 19, 2012

Celebrities and festival-goers from the independent film community will get a lot of helps from Bing next week.  Bing is the official decision engine for this year’s Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah.  The festival will start on January 19, 2012.

As the official decision engine, Bing team wll also be setting up Bing Bar to provide concierge services and organize parties for festival-goers, including free transportation service and free movie passes. 

The technology team will provide local mapping services and Sundance's schedule of events that running on mobile apps.  The Sundance app is catered mostly for Apple iOS devices (iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch).  The tech team is still working hard to get an app for running on Google Android devices.  Unfortunately for Bing’s own mobile operating system Windows Phone, users must have to wait until next year’s event.

(Image: Bing)

Number Two: the decision engine’s share of searches reached 15.1% in December 2011 and captured the number two spot in America, Google maintained the number one spot with 65.9% share, while Yahoo dropped to number three with 14.5% share

Bing captured the number two spot with 15.1% share of searches in America in December 2011, compared to November which was at 15.0% share (an increase of 0.1% share), as per data provided by comScore.

Google maintained the number one spot with 65.9% share in December, compared to 65.4% share in November 2011 (an increase of 0.4% share).

Yahoo queries dropped to 14.5% share in December, compared with 15.1% in November 2011 (a drop of 0.6% share).

The Search Alliance combo Bing and Yahoo had a total of 29.6% share in December, compared to 30.1% share in November (or a drop of 0.5% share).

15 months after the decision engine added Bing Social Layer as new signals in search, Google’s results get extra layers of social and personal with “Search Plus Your World”

In October 2010 Bing added social layer into the decision engine search results by pulling data from Facebook friends and family members who share the same networks.  Bing’s search results showed friends have liked on certain things and stuff.  15 months after the decision engine’s announcement, Google’s results get more social and personal with “Search Plus Your World.”   The world’s largest search engine is working hard to transform its search results by mixing data shared privately along with data from the public websites.

In order to experience the new feature, users must sign-in to Google.com and conducting search in English language.  The new system allows users to catch contents that are privately shared from friends and family combining with contents from other public websites. 

According to Google blog post, there are three new features including:

• Personal Results: photos and posts
• Profiles in Search: people info  
• People and Pages: pages related to an interested topic

Some limitations of the new features include no direct data pulling from Facebook or Twitter.  Facebook has its exclusive partnership with Bing, while Twitter’s deal with Google has expired few months ago.

(Top: Bing Social Layer; bottom:  Google Search Plus Your World)

No deal with major rival: Bing junks Google’s Dealmap and replaces with a new deal provider 8coupons to provide local offers to the decision engine users via the web and mobile app

Bing Deals has signed a new partnership with 8coupons, a New York-based daily deal aggregator company to provide local offers to the decision engine users via the web and mobile app.  There was no official press release, but citing Microsoft and 8coupons people, Tricia Duryee of allthingsd.com confirmed the partnership last weekend.

Bing Deals organizes local offers by city and updates local deals regularly to help the decision engine users to find the best offers.  Bing Deals previously used The Dealmap services as the decision engine team announced the partnership on March 3, 2011. However, Bing’s major rival Google acquired  the aggregator during the first week of August 2011.

Top image: 8coupons.com

Bing partners with the Sundance Film Festival and gives away a free trip for a decision engine’s user and a friend to Park City, Utah (submission period, 9 AM to 5 PM PT, Friday, January 6, 2012)

The decision engine team will send out tweets with questions about movies from its Twitter account on Friday, January 6, 2012.  Bing’s users must respond between 9 AM to 5 PM PT.  The contest is also called as “Trip to Sundance” Sweepstakes.  To be eligible, users must include the #BingBar hashtag on their respond, live in America, 21 years or older, and become Bing’s follower up to January 19, 2012.

One lucky Bing’s user and a friend will win a free trip to experience the independent films festival known as the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah.

(Image: @Bing Twitter)

Bing’s search partner hired former PayPal president Scott Thompson as Yahoo’s new CEO and now considering merge with Netflix

One day after Bing’s partner Yahoo hired a new CEO, who was former PayPal president Scott Thompson, Wall Street analysts speculated on Thursday morning that the search engine pioneer is now considering merge with Netflix.  The streaming media stock market value has been dropping like crazy since this past summer due to decreasing number of subscribers and flip-flop on DVD rental pricing.  However, Netflix CEO Reed Hastings has upbeat news and noted his company’s service has reached over 45 countries worldwide and delivered over two billion hours of content of TV shows and online movies.

Free shipping and free tax helped America’s ecommerce holiday season: spending for the last two months of 2011, November and December, reached $37.2 billion (an increase of 15% versus 2010)

November and December 2011 total spending reached an all-time high record at $37.2 billion, compared to the 2010’s total spending which was at $32.4 billion, this was an increase of 15% versus 2010, reported comScore.com. 

Online shopping analysts believe that many stores offered free shipping and free tax.  Those two incentives helped the recent ecommerce booming in America.

The 2011 Cyber Monday (November 28) reached a total of $1.25 billion, making it the top spending day in ecommerce history.  Compared to one year ago, the 2010 Cyber Monday totaled $1.03 billion, or an increase of 22%.

(Table: comScore)

Bing and its parent Microsoft have an average of 200 million unique visitors per month, other most visited web brands in America including Google, Facebook, Yahoo, YouTube, AOL, Wikipedia, Apple, and Ask

In order to make a meaningful web sites ranking for 2011 in America, Nielsen published lists of top 10 web brands, social media sites, videos, and smartphone devices.  Google received the top honor as the most visited web brand in America in 2011.  The world’s largest search engine has an average of 153.4 million unique visitors per month. 

The world’s largest social network Facebook seized the second spot of the most visited web brand with 137.6 million unique visitors per month.   Facebook is the number one among social networks and blogs, while Google’s Blogger is number two.

Bing captured the number four spot of the most visited web brand in America in 2011.  The decision engine and its family of MSN and Windows Live have an average of 115.9 million unique visitors per month. 

Bing’s partner Yahoo captured the number three spot.  The Search Alliance combo of Bing and Yahoo has an average of 246 million unique visitors per month.  

Bing’s parent Microsoft captured the number six spot with an average of 83.7 million unique visitors per month.   Combination of Bing and its parent Microsoft have an average of 200 million unique visitors per month.

(Table: Nielsen)

Cheer up 2011: holiday season e-commerce spending in America increased 15% versus one year ago, as Cyber Monday recorded $1.25 billion in spending, a new record for one-day sales in history

No matter it is Black Friday, Cyber Monday or other naming convention for this year’s holiday season shopping days, overall ecommerce spending for the first eight weeks of November to December 2011 jumped about 15% versus one year ago, as per the latest data provided by comScore.  Only one week left in the year of 2011, bargain hunters and deal shoppers had charged their credit cards or PayPal accounts for a total of $35.3 billion.

The heaviest shopping day in 2011 was on Cyber Monday (November 28) as shoppers spent $1.25 billion online within a 24-hours span, compared to one year ago which was totaled $1.03 billion (or, an increase of 22%).  The 2011 Cyber Monday is now considered as the biggest online shopping day in history.

In term of the largest percentage increase for one-day spending, Black Friday recorded a jump of 26% versus one year ago.  During the 2011 Black Friday, shoppers spent $816 million online, compared to last year which was totaled $648 million.

(Table: comScore)

December 29: the decision engine team gives a sneak peek of this Thursday’s prize of Bing Magical Holiday Calendar, a two-week trip valued at $30,000 for two persons

Bing team showed a teaser of this Thursday’s Grand Prize.  The special viewing of #29 of Bing Magical Holiday Calendar was given early to the decision engine’s audience before officially being shown to the public on Thursday, December 29. 

By partnering with Lonely Planet, the decision engine will give away a two-week trip valued at $30,000 for two persons.  As Bing team wrote “…winner and a guest will work with the travel experts at Lonely Planet (staff and authors) to devise a customized 15 day/14 night itinerary exploring up to four destinations around the world…”

(Screenshot: Bing team)

Happy Holidays from BingWatch.com team

We will be in-n-out of town during the next few days celebrating the Holiday Seasons with family and friends. We will be updating the site with only one or two posts this week, as we all enjoy the Holiday Seasons. At the same time, our team will work on some New Year wish lists. Thank you to all readers for your interest and support. By mid-2012, we will be entering the 4th anniversary of BingWatch.com. Enjoy the Holiday Season!

The BingWatch.com team

Bing Rewards gives away a weekend trip for two, Xbox 360 gaming console pack, and will end on January 11, 2012

The first prize is a weekend trip for two for travelling in America.  Users can redeem 50 credits for 1 entry, or redeem 100 credits for 10 entries. The second prize is Xbox 360 gaming console pack as users can redeem 20 credits for 1 entry and 50 credits for 10 entries.  Submissions will end on January 11, 2012.

(Image: Bing Rewards)

Bing’s sister Skype gives one-hour free WiFi Internet access to travelers in 50 airports in America, but travelers in two airports--Skype’s hometown Seattle and LAX the most social airport--are being left out

Bing’s sister company, Skype, is trying to be a nice Santa Clause this holiday seasons by giving travelers in 50 airports a holiday gift.  Those 50 airports include JFK and LaGuardia New York, San Francisco, Chicago O’Hare, Austin Texas, and Miami.  According to Skype blog, the free access will be available beginning Wednesday, December 21 to Tuesday December 27, 2011. 

In order to get the free access, Internet users must have machines running on Apple Mac, Windows or iOS operating systems.  There will be no free riders for googlers.  Google’s Android users must pay to access Internet during the Skype campaign period. 

Several top airports are being left out.  The only free access in the state of Washington will be in Spokane International Airport.  While in the greater Los Angeles areas, only Burbank’s Bob Hope airport will get the free WiFi access.  Travelers in the most social airport in the world, Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), will not get the free WiFi.

(Map: Skype)

Exactly 15%: Bing gained more search market share in America in November 2011 while Yahoo and Google dropped slightly

One of the top Internet research firms who many Wall Street analysts rely on, comScore, has just published November 2011 web traffic data.  Bing captured 15.0% search market share in November, compared to October which was at 14.8% (an increase of 0.2%).

Yahoo remained weak as the pioneer search engine dropped to 15.1% share in November, compared to one month ago which was at 15.2% (a drop of 0.1%).

The Search Alliance Bing and Yahoo combo has a total of 30.1% share in November, compared to October which was at 30.0% (an increase of 0.1%).

Google’s share dropped slightly to 65.4% in November, compared to October, the world’s largest search engine had a total of 65.6% share (a drop of 0.2%).

(Table: comScore)

Bing’s “cool stuff” is here: a new property called so.cl social-search or socl (.com)

As we reported early this week, Bing’s social networking and social search called socl.com or in a short form as so.cl is now available for general public.  Click here to watch an intro video.

Early today Mary-Jo Foley provided a screenshot as the following:

According to the official website for so.cl, "So.cl (pronounced "social") is an experimental research project, developed by Microsoft’s FUSE Labs, focused on exploring the possibilities of social search for the purpose of learning." 

Citing the FAQ section, the website will provide the following items:

• So.cl combines social networking and search, to help people find and share interesting web pages in the way students do when they work together.
• So.cl helps you create rich posts, by assembling montages of visual web content.
• To encourage interaction and collaboration, So.cl provides rich media sharing, and real time sharing of videos via "video parties."

The 2011 Holiday Season online shopping in America continues to break new record sales as “Green Monday” (December 12, 2011) reached $1.13 billion in total spending

This past Monday, December 12, is classified as “Green Monday” for this year’s Holiday Season online shopping in America.  According to comScore, the total sales for the third largest e-commerce day of the year reached $1.13 billion in total sales.  Compared to one year ago, the total spending was $954 million.  This was an increase of 19% over last year.

As per comScore, two other Mondays, Cyber Monday, November 28, captured $1.25 billion in total spending in America, while Cyber-Green Monday, December 5, reached $1.17 billion in total spending.

(Table: comScore)

The holiday shopping season in America: the 2011 online shopping experienced growth rates of 15% versus the 2010 online shopping

Just about two weeks before this year’s Christmas, comScore reported that the 2011 holiday season e-commerce spending has hit an all-time high record.  From November 1 to December 9, 2011, holiday shoppers had spent about $24.6 billion in America, compared to one year ago which was at $21.4 billion, or an increase of 15%.

Two of the biggest shopping days for the year, Black Friday and Cyber Monday, also captured a significant sales growth over one year ago. Black Friday 2011 e-commerce hit a total of $816 million, compared to one year ago which was totaled $648 million, or an increase of 26%.

Cyber Monday online shopping have surpassed the billion dollar mark for the past two years in a row.  The 2011’s total was $1.25 billion, compared to 2010’s total of $1.03, or an increase of 22%.

(Table: comScore)

Bing’s parent social squatting and soon launching “cool stuff”: a project called Tulalip, then Socl (.com), and later shortened as so (.cl)

Bing’s parent has caught several social-related and short domain names lately. It appears that the tech giant is doing some kind of social-squatting. As per a report by fusible.com today, Microsoft had registered a short web address using the Chile country code domain (.cl). Bing’s parent also bought socl.com domain name this past summer, and now has turned into a shorter web address so.cl.

The future social network called socl.com was previously reported by The Verge in mid-November of this year. Then two weeks later, in early December 2011, RK Johnston, a Bing’s Test Manager, tweeted about “cool stuff” is coming shortly. With all these new development in social-squatting web addresses and insider info, we could be seeing Bing’s social network for general public soon.

Images: (top) so.cl and (bottom) theverge.com

Let’s say hello to Bing’s rival search advertisers in America including IAC/InterActiveCorp, Amazon.com, AT&T, Expedia, Experian Group, and Microsoft

Citing Kantar Media data, adage.com published a list of Google's biggest search advertisers in America.  Using data compiled from January to September 2011, Kantar Media showed the top spots that included IAC/InterActiveCorp, Amazon.com, AT&T, Expedia, Experian Group, and Microsoft.

The decision engine’s parent total spending on search ads via Google was considered as the number six of the biggest spender for 2011.   The software giant company had written checks totaled for about $71 million by the end of September. 

IAC/InterActiveCorp is the number one search ads spender which totaled about $175 million for the first nine months of 2011.

(Screenshot: adage.com from Kantar Media)

The new meaning of SAAS is Store as a Service: Microsoft introduces Windows Store and urges the decision engine’s users to make money selling Metro-style apps running on the next generation Windows 8 operating system (80% rev share)

Bing’s parent company gathered a bunch of developers in San Francisco this week and showed them Windows Store.  This new store is different from Microsoft Store.  Microsoft urged developers to start thinking to build useful and high-quality apps using the next version of Windows 8.  In tech buzz, the new OS is known as Metro-style design.  After building apps, Microsoft will help to distribute and sell apps thru Windows Store. 

With some programing skills (i.e., HTML5 and JavaScript), the decision engine’s users can start making money thru Windows Store soon.  Microsoft promises to give developers up to 80% revenue share for Metro-style apps. 

In a blog post, Windows Store team called the new program Store as a service (SAAS).  The old meaning of SAAS was “Software as a service” which was made popular by former Chief Software Architect Ray Ozzie.

Screenshots: (top) Selling Metro-style apps; (bottom) Windows Store

The decision engine revamps Bing Rewards redemption center by adding several new entry level rewards and new partners including Redbox, Groupon and Tango Card

Bing Rewards redemption center website has a facelift this week.  The new site will help the decision engine users to redeem their points easily with more choices. 

Bing also offers several new lower prices items on the redemption center.  In order to redeem faster, there are three items that will cost only $1 including for Teach for America, Kids in Need, and Boys and Girls Clubs of America (this is a new partner).

Bing team also downsizing its requirements by offering several entry levels deals, including 100 Microsoft points for Xbox 360, $2.50 and $5 Amazon gift cards.

According to Bing team blog, based on users’ feedbacks, the redemption center also adds several new partners including Redbox, Groupon and Tango Card.

(Screenshot: Bing Rewards redemption center)

The decision engine releases Bing on Xbox 360 with voice search, a faster way to search movies, music, games, on-demand TV and apps (available in English language include in America, Britain, and Canada)

The decision engine releases its futuristic voice search this week to get more users thru Xbox 360 gaming system. Starting December 6, 2011, Bing will add voice search on Xbox 360 game console. International users must read a fine print text “Bing on Xbox voice search will initially be available in English in the U.S., Canada and the U.K.”

With the help of Kinect motion controller, the decision engine users can use the sound of voice to conduct search. Search options including for movies, music, games, on-demand TV, and apps. The decision engine also partners with several third parties in the entertainment business and technology such as Netflix, Hulu Plus, Comcast Xfinity on Demand, HBO Go, ESPN, YouTube, TMZ, Vevo, and others.

Bing announced the Xbox 360 with voice search on June 6, 2011, at an event that was organized by Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) at Los Angeles Convention Center. Bing’s parent also released Kinect for Windows SDK beta during this past summer and urged academic research and applications developers to build apps running on Xbox 360.

During the week of Black Friday and the week of Cyber Monday, Xbox 360 game console was the hottest selling digital entertainment system for bargain hunters in America. Microsoft reported to selling close to 1 million consoles during the week of Black Friday 2011 and another 1 million consoles during the week of Cyber Monday 2011. Microsoft also claimed Xbox 360 game console continued to capture the number one spot of top consoles sold in America for eleventh month in a row.

(Image: xbox.com)

The decision engine team is preparing some kind of “cool stuff” and will be going live soon

The decision engine team is working hard to launch something really big and very exciting stuff.  And, those new features or services will be going live soon. 

Citing a tweet by RK Johnston, a Test Manager for Bing Shopping, Travel and Entertainment Domains, liveside.net reported this morning that the decision engine is preparing to launch “cool stuff” very soon.  In a tweet dated December 2 at 10:35AM Pacific Time, RK Johnston wrote “Having fun in the big Bing allhands. Cool stuff coming soon.”

(Screenshot: Twitter @RKJohnston)

The decision engine creates an interactive site dubbed as the Bing Magical Holiday Calendar and offers a ton of gifts including around the world tickets, concert tickets, new cars, and others (open only to users in America)

Starting December 1, 2011, the decision engine’s users can participate in the giveaway contest which will require users to stick around for 31 days of December.  Users must visit an interactive site dubbed as the Bing Magical Holiday Calendar and submit their responds. 

Each user will have a chance to win gifts including around the world tickets, concert tickets, new cars, and others.  Prizes for the contest are sponsored by several top brands including FIAT car, Hulu streaming video online, Live Nation Entertainment, Lonely Planet and Spotify music platform. 

The contest is open only to users in America (sorry world). The contest is also available to Facebook users.

(Image: the Bing Magical Holiday Calendar)

Comparing Bing’s search terms during Black Friday 2011 versus Cyber Monday 2011 in America

Bing team released several top keywords during this year’s holiday shopping that was started one day after the Thanksgiving Day in America. 

Black Friday shopping was on November 25, while Cyber Monday occurred on November 28, 2011.

Based on searches data compiled by Bing team, here is a table (on the right) showing a comparison between the two biggest shopping days in America.

Social networks influencers refer more than 0.5% of all ecommerce sales on this year’s Cyber Monday and Black Friday, as Bing’s partner Facebook represents 86% of all influencers

Bing’s social networking partner Facebook controlled about 86% of all social media web traffic during this year’s Cyber Monday (November 28) and Black Friday (November 25), as per data compiled by IBM’s Coremetrics.  Social networks influencers referred 0.56% of all ecommerce sales on Cyber Monday 2011, while they also referred 0.53% of all ecommerce sales on Black Friday 2011.

Online retailers have sold more stuff this year than last year.  The two biggest sales days of the year jumped over last year’s sales total. According to IBM’s Coremetrics, Cyber Monday 2011 sales increased about 33% over 2010.   Cyber Monday 2011 went up 29.3% over Black Friday 2011.  As per the IBM report, the total amount of orders went up to $198.26 for Cyber Monday 2011, compared to one year ago which was totaled $193.24, or an increase of 2.6%.

(Chart: IBM)

The decision engine’s most searched people in 2011 include Justin Bieber, Kim Kardashian, Jennifer Aniston, Lindsay Lohan, Jennifer Lopez, Britney Spears, Katy Perry, Megan Fox, Lady Gaga and Miley Cyrus

Using its powerful database of billions of search queries, the decision engine provided several lists of most searched of 2011, including:

• People
• News Stories
• Sports Stars
• Musicians
• Consumer Electronics
• TV Shows
• Movies
• Celebrity Events
• Destinations

In term of searching for famous people, Justin Bieber’s baby rumor has helped the superstar to capture the decision engine’s top spot for the most searched people in 2011.  The Canadian-born teen sensation and singer only captured number six spot in 2010. 

This past summer married of Kim Kardashian to a basketball player also helped the American reality TV star to retain one of the two top spots of the most searched people in 2011.  Kim was number one in 2010.

Several people who were popular in 2010 had dropped out of the top-10 lists, including former top-ranking golfer Tiger Woods, America’s current president Barack Obama, pop superstar singer Michael Jackson, and others.

(Table: Bing team)

The decision engine introduces a new URL BingBlackFriday.com to help users to make better and faster shopping decisions

One day after the Thanksgiving is called Black Friday, as Americans will flock into shopping malls, online ecommerce stores to buy stuffs to celebrate the holiday seasons.  Many stores will open exactly in midnight of Friday to welcome all bargain hunters to get the cheapest products in the market.

The decision engine will run a new special URL at BingBlackFriday.com to help users to find the information needed for a particular product and find place to buy.  The new URL BingBlackFriday.com will provide weekly update by pulling info from Sunday’s newspaper coupon sections, retailers’ coupons and special offers.  At the same time Bing Shopping will crunch products information faster and provide data in simpler way to help users to make better shopping decisions.

(Screenshot: Bing team)

Bing Video adds an extra arm as Microsoft acquired VideoSurf to expand the decision engine’s online video search

Bing Video is very popular among the decision engine’s users as the website can play short video clips instantly using "autoplay" tool, so users do not have to visit the URL of the particular website.  The decision engine has just added a new weapon into its list of features as Microsoft acquired VideoSurf. Bing’s parent will pay about $70 million for the video search startup.

This well-funded Silicon Valley-based company has developed a very advanced technology that can scan and locate video clips from many websites include Hulu, CNN, TMZ, Metacafe, Fancast, Comedy Central, and Dailymotion, as reported by globes.co.il.    VideoSurf received over 20 million users to check out video clips every month.

(Screenshot: VideoSurf)