Search Engine Land
  • SEO
    • > All SEO
    • > What Is SEO?
    • > SEO Periodic Table
    • > Google: SEO
    • > Bing SEO
    • > Google Algorithm Updates
  • PPC
    • > All PPC
    • > What is PPC?
    • > Google Ads
    • > Microsoft Ads
    • > The Periodic Tables of PPC
  • Focuses
    • > Local
    • > Commerce
    • > Shopify SEO Guide
    • > Content
    • > Email Marketing Periodic Table
    • > Social Media Marketing
    • > Analytics
    • > Search Engine Land Awards
    • > All Focuses
  • SMX
  • Webinars
  • Intelligence Reports
  • White Papers
  • About
    • > About Search Engine Land
    • > Newsletter
    • > Third Door Media
    • > Advertise

Processing...Please wait.

Search Engine Land » Channel » SEO » Microsoft Makes Mobile Bing More Social Too

Microsoft Makes Mobile Bing More Social Too

Yesterday during the SMX Advanced session called “Up Close with the Bing Business Portal,” Microsoft’s Andy Chu took a couple of minutes to announce a range of feature upgrades for the Bing mobile site (m.bing.com) as well as their expansion to the UK version of Bing for mobile browsers. Among these upgrades, a “Share on […]

Greg Sterling on June 9, 2011 at 10:35 am

Yesterday during the SMX Advanced session called “Up Close with the Bing Business Portal,” Microsoft’s Andy Chu took a couple of minutes to announce a range of feature upgrades for the Bing mobile site (m.bing.com) as well as their expansion to the UK version of Bing for mobile browsers.

Among these upgrades, a “Share on Facebook” capability has been broadly added to search results, local business listings and other areas. There’s also a new “carousel” presentation for top that allows users to quickly flip through news headlines. It creates something like a “news cube” that spins with a mild 3D effect.

More significantly, Microsoft has enabled a hybrid map/list “split view” for Bing Maps and local listings. Rather than having to flip back and forth between the map view and the content or directions list, users see a dynamic map at the top of the screen along with the “list” below.

Finally Bing has added search history and trending topics to the drop-down search auto-suggestions.

Share on Facebook

Right now “share on Facebook” is only available on iOS devices, but it will quickly be coming to other platforms. This isn’t the same thing as Facebook/Like integration into search results on the PC. However it makes mobile Bing broadly more social by allowing users to share practically any search result or listing with their Facebook networks.

This enables use cases such as the following: I share a hotel or restaurant listing to get feedback from my network (“Hey does anyone know whether this is a good place?”). Another more “cynical” use case involves people sharing to try and generate Likes for a business or brand.

Below is an example of Share on Facebook in a local results context.

Maps/List View

When you’re getting directions on the mobile browser version of Bing Maps, you’ll see a screen that has an expandable map at the top. Each point on the directions list is reflected in the map image at the top of the screen and it dynamically changes as you scroll through each step. In addition to driving directions, it works for also works for transit and walking directions. (This functionality does not yet exist in the Bing iPhone app.)

Search History and Trending Topics

In the drop down search suggest menu on m.Bing you’ll now see relevant search history as well as “hot” or trending topics. Your personal history is indicated by a small clock icon and trending topics have an associated “magnifying glass” icon next to them. This feature is currently available only to US users.

Trending topics may also generate incrementally more searches for Microsoft. (Hey what’s up with Abe Vigoda? Hint: still alive.)

Unless otherwise mentioned all of the above are available in the US on smartphones that support HTML5. That includes the iPhone, Android and selected RIM handsets — but not Windows Phone yet. In addition, Microsoft upgraded m.Bing in the UK and extended most of the same functionality to the mobile browser experience there:

Today also marks our expansion across the pond with the launch of Bing for Mobile browse in the UK. In addition to the above updates, customers in the UK will see: a redesigned homepage, enhanced local listings, autosuggest, image search, and driving and walking directions (and real-time transit in London).

Postscript: Microsoft contacted me to clarify that “the Share on Facebook capability is available on all HTML5 devices; the only piece that is specific to iOS devices is the ability to share apps.”


Opinions expressed in this article are those of the guest author and not necessarily Search Engine Land. Staff authors are listed here.


New on Search Engine Land

    New mobile Google ad experiment puts favicon in-line with display URL

    Google launches video health tools to help publisher monetization

    SEO pioneer and expert Bill Slawski passes away

    New Yelp feature: Request a Call

    Google Ads issue with access to video pages frontend

About The Author

Greg Sterling
Greg Sterling is a Contributing Editor to Search Engine Land, a member of the programming team for SMX events and the VP, Market Insights at Uberall.

Related Topics

BingImage SearchSEO

Get the daily newsletter search marketers rely on.

Processing...Please wait.

See terms.

ATTEND OUR EVENTS

Learn actionable search marketing tactics that can help you drive more traffic, leads, and revenue.

March 8-9, 2022: Master Classes (virtual)

June 14-15, 2022: SMX Advanced (virtual)

November 15-16, 2022: SMX Next (virtual)

Learn More About Our SMX Events

Discover time-saving technologies and actionable tactics that can help you overcome crucial marketing challenges.

Start Discovering Now: Spring (virtual)

September 28-29, 2022: Fall (virtual)

Learn More About Our MarTech Events

Webinars

Take a Crawl, Walk, Run Approach to Multi-Channel ABM

Content Comes First: Transform Your Operations With DAM

Dominate Your Competition with Google Auction Insights and Search Intelligence

See More Webinars

Intelligence Reports

Enterprise SEO Platforms: A Marketer’s Guide

Enterprise Identity Resolution Platforms

Email Marketing Platforms: A Marketer’s Guide

Enterprise Sales Enablement Platforms: A Marketer’s Guide

Enterprise Digital Experience Platforms: A Marketer’s Guide

Enterprise Call Analytics Platforms: A Marketer’s Guide

See More Intelligence Reports

White Papers

Reputation Management For Healthcare Organizations

Unlock the App Marketing Potential of QR Codes

Realising the power of virtual events for demand generation

The Progressive Marketer’s Ultimate Events Strategy 2022 Worksheet

CMO Guide: How to Plan Smart and Pivot Fast

See More Whitepapers

Receive daily search news and analysis.

Processing...Please wait.

Topics

  • SEO
  • PPC

Our Events

  • Search Marketing Expo - SMX
  • MarTech

About

  • About Us
  • Contact
  • Privacy
  • Marketing Opportunities
  • Staff

Follow Us

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • Newsletters
  • RSS
  • Youtube

© 2022 Third Door Media, Inc. All rights reserved.