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 » Report: Microsoft Did Shop Bing To Facebook

Report: Microsoft Did Shop Bing To Facebook

You know that rumor about Microsoft shopping Bing to Facebook? It sparked lots of speculation about whether that would be a good move for both companies. Turns out it did happen, according to a report in the New York Times citing executives who made overtures to Facebook on behalf of Microsoft — but without the […]

Pamela Parker on April 25, 2012 at 4:53 pm

You know that rumor about Microsoft shopping Bing to Facebook? It sparked lots of speculation about whether that would be a good move for both companies. Turns out it did happen, according to a report in the New York Times citing executives who made overtures to Facebook on behalf of Microsoft — but without the effort being sanctioned by CEO Steve Ballmer.

This happened more than a year ago, according to the report. Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg declined to discuss the matter, telling those Microsoft executives that the company had too much else to focus on. Neither Google nor Facebook spokespeople would comment officially on the matter.

The report cements the suspicion that some within Microsoft, at least, are not convinced of Bing’s strategic importance to the company, though Ballmer has long said Microsoft is in the search game for the long haul. In Microsoft’s most recent earnings report, it said its online services division, which houses Bing and AdCenter, brought in revenue of $747 million, resulting in a loss of $479 million. Still, that was roughly $300 million better compared to the previous year, when it lost $776 million.

Meanwhile, Facebook’s most recent S-1 shows a slowing of its meteoric growth, causing speculation about what it needs to do — get into the search advertising business, perhaps? — to resume a growth trajectory that will satisfy investors.

Though Google definitely sees Facebook as a threat, with the launch of Google+ largely seen as a reaction to that threat, Microsoft has had a much cozier relationship with Facebook. Earlier this week, the companies announced a $550 million patents deal, in which Microsoft sold 650 patents to Facebook. Interestingly, those patents will help Facebook protect itself from a lawsuit filed by Yahoo, another Microsoft partner. (This was the original topic of the New York Times story, and The Business Insider called out the acknowledgement of Microsoft trying to sell Bing.)

Back in 2007, Microsoft made a $240 million investment in Facebook. At that time, there was much speculation about Microsoft acquiring Facebook.


New on Search Engine Land

    SEO pioneer and expert Bill Slawski passes away

    New Yelp feature: Request a Call

    Google Ads issue with access to video pages frontend

    Everything you should know about evaluating your competitor’s backlink profile

    Surprise: ‘Near me’ brand names don’t rank higher for ‘near me’ searches

About The Author

Pamela Parker
Pamela Parker is Research Director at Third Door Media's Content Studio, where she produces MarTech Intelligence Reports and other in-depth content for digital marketers in conjunction with Search Engine Land and MarTech. Prior to taking on this role at TDM, she served as Content Manager, Senior Editor and Executive Features Editor. Parker is a well-respected authority on digital marketing, having reported and written on the subject since its beginning. She's a former managing editor of ClickZ and has also worked on the business side helping independent publishers monetize their sites at Federated Media Publishing. Parker earned a master's degree in journalism from Columbia University.

Related Topics

SEO

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

Data-Driven Answers to Achieve Omnichannel Success

Is Your Marketing Stack Ready for Omnichannel CX?

Outrank in Organic Search with These 5 Core Tactics

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.