Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer gave the opening keynote at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas last night. It was a review of Microsoft accomplishments and product launches during 2009 (e.g., Windows 7, Bing) as well as a preview of some products coming to market (e.g., Project Natal for Xbox) in the future.
Ballmer spent some time talking about Bing and Bing Maps, as well as providing a demo of the latter and the new Street Side capability.
Ballmer announced that Bing would become the default search engine and MSN the default homepage on HP computers in 42 countries. This is essentially a three-year extension and expansion of a pre-existing deal with HP, the world’s largest PC maker. Here’s what’s different, according to Microsoft:
- The old deal was 12 months the new deal is three years.
- Bing and the MSN Homepage will be on more models of HP PCs than in the previous deal
- Our products will be on both consumer and commercial PC models
- The prior deal included US and Canada. The new deal includes the MSN homepage, Bing search default and Bing toolbar much more broadly in 42 countries
Among other things, Ballmer also showed off a small “slate” computer from HP (a version of what had been rumored but not the “courier”). Surprisingly, given how hot the subject is, there was limited discussion of mobile during the keynote. However, there was a brief appearance by the HTC HD2, which apparently will be running Windows Mobile 7.
PaidContent has some additional coverage. And you can watch the entire keynote, if you have a little more than an hour to spare, here.
Related Topics: Channel: Local | Microsoft: Bing | Microsoft: Bing Maps & Local | Microsoft: General | Microsoft: Partnerships | Top News
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