SearchCap: The Day In Search, November 4, 2008
Below is what happened in search today, as reported on Search Engine Land and from other places across the web.
Topic: Microsoft
SearchPerks – Microsoft’s New Prizes For Searches Program
Microsoft’s Live Search Cashback program has failed to grow the company’s search traffic significantly (as I expected), so now it’s try again time. Out officially today is SearchPerks, a program designed to be easier to use and more broadly targeted than Cashback.
Cool (or Cuil) Still Has To Play By The Rules
I recently did an opening keynote down in Silicon Valley and before my audience got well into their first cup of coffee, I started ranting at them. Now, being Canadian, my rants are rather mild and non- threatening (although I apparently scared a lot of Aussies at SMX in Sydney) but consider it a kinder, […]
Google Acquisitions Real & Rumored: Korean Blogging Platform, PC Games Producer Valve
Last week Google confirmed that it had made its first Korean acquisition, a popular blogging platform called TNC, which has approximately 400,000 users, including a majority of Korea’s top bloggers (per VentureBeat). The site’s founder and CEO Chang-Won Kim said that he thought Google bought the company to boost its “minor” market share in Korea, […]
SearchCap: The Day In Search, August 1, 2008
Below is what happened in search today, as reported on Search Engine Land and from other places across the web.
SearchCap: The Day In Search, July 11, 2008
Below is what happened in search today, as reported on Search Engine Land and from other places across the web.
Symbian Mobile Platform To Become Free, Rivaling Android & iPhone
The Symbian mobile software is already what Google Android aspires to be: the world’s dominant smartphone operating system (it runs Nokia smartphones, among others). But it isn’t free, or I should say wasn’t free until today. Nokia announced that it was buying the shares of Symbian that it doesn’t own — the licensing company was […]
SearchCap: The Day In Search, June 13, 2008
Below is what happened in search today, as reported on Search Engine Land and from other places across the web.
Hey Microsoft: Bribing Searchers Is Fine; Frustrating Them Is Not!
I’ve got no problem if Microsoft wants to “bribe” searchers to use its search engine. Even Google has done the same. But the Live Search Cashback program rolled out today seems a pretty inept way to do it, far more likely to disappoint and frustrate than woo searchers.
Google Sees “Watershed Moment” For Mobile Usage
Google is now reporting that it is seeing a rapid increase in mobile Internet search and usage on several platforms. According to an interview with Reuters, Google mobile product manager Matt Waddell said, “We have very much hit a watershed moment in terms of mobile Internet usage. We are seeing that mobile Internet use is […]
Search Biz: Alibaba Gains, Google Loses, & Eric Schmidt Says Don’t Call Me Daddy Anymore
China’s Alibaba.com, in which Yahoo is a significant minority shareholder, enjoyed a massive 340 percent gain in net profit tied to China’s fast-growing economy. As Google argued earlier, it appears that those doing business in Asia and China in particular are somewhat insulated from the United States’ economic woes.
Search Wikia: Not Even A Remote Threat To Google
Search Wikia, the open source search engine from Wikipedia co-founder Jimmy Wales’ Wikia, Inc. organization, launched today in an alpha version. Widely hyped, typically portrayed as a heroic David vs. Goliath struggle, it’s really just yet another crappy search service that may, potentially, if all goes well, eventually turn into something useful. For now, though, […]
Microsoft Builds A Better Mobile Search Experience
Yesterday Microsoft announced a number of content upgrades and changes to its local search for mobile devices, which include reviews, one-click directions, interactive maps, photos, and so on. There’s more specific detail on the Virtual Earth blog. All the major search engines are now offering blended search results on their mobile-friendly sites. (As an aside, […]
SearchCap: The Day In Search, December 7, 2007
Below is what happened in search today, as reported on Search Engine Land and from other places across the web.
Google’s Android Arrives: Not Gphone But An Open Source Mobile Phone Platform
After literally years of anticipation, rumor, and increasingly aggressive speculation about a Google Phone, Google has formally announced that the Gphone cometh — sort of. Today, the company has gone public with news of an open source mobile operating system called "Android," named after the company Google acquired in 2005. Backing Android is the Open […]
Microsoft adCenter Adds Instant Editorial Reviews & More
The adCenter Blog announced new changes that have been implemented in the adCenter console. The changes include a real time editorial ad feedback feature, changes to campaign management features, and additional reporting upgrades. The largest change was the immediate editorial feedback on keywords or ads you create in the adCenter console. In short, Microsoft seemed […]
Report: HTC To Be Handset That Goes With Google Mobile OS
In the now-you-see-it-now-you-don’t game of anticipating the Google Phone or Google mobile OS on a handset, UBS analyst Benjamin Schachter issued a report that predicts “Taiwanese handset manufacturer HTC will ship about 50,000 cell phones running on a mobile operating system made by the Mountain View, Calif.-based search giant by the end of this year.” […]
SearchCap: The Day In Search, October 16, 2007
Below is what happened in search today, as reported on Search Engine Land and from other places across the web.
SearchCap: The Day In Search, October 15, 2007
Below is what happened in search today, as reported on Search Engine Land and from other places across the web.
GPhone Likely A Mobile OS To Compete With Windows Mobile
Earlier this year, Google’s Marissa Mayer argued that Google wasn’t coming out with a piece of mobile hardware, as she explained that the iPhone has dramatically boosted use of Google Maps and other mobile services. Yet there have also been articles quoting people who say they’ve seen a “GPhone.” Miguel Helft’s piece this morning in […]
Sorting Out The Mobile Search & SEO Mess
One of the biggest challenges of being a mobile SEO is comparing keyword results across the many different search engines. While the goal of all the mobile engines is the same, their approaches vary considerably. Many traditional SEOs will simply target Google and hope for the best in the other engines, but there is a […]
SearchCap: The Day In Search, September 11, 2007
Below is what happened in search today, as reported on Search Engine Land and from other places across the web.
Google Promoting Mobile Ads As Extension Of Desktop AdWords, Requiring Opt Out
Although Google has been testing/running ads on mobile for at least a year, the company is now starting to formally promote mobile to its advertiser base and SEM firms. Here are the FAQs. If AdWords campaigns conform to Google’s mobile ad requirements and limits they will be automatically included in mobile AdWords distribution for free […]
SearchCap: The Day In Search, September 5, 2007
Below is what happened in search today, as reported on Search Engine Land and from other places across the web.
Sprint Announces WiMax Partnership With Google
Wireless carrier Sprint and Google have announced a partnership in which Google will provide “Web search, interactive communications and social networking services on devices for the new high-speed wireless network the carrier is building,” according to a report in the Wall Street Journal.
Microsoft Scores Video Game Ad Deal With EA
Microsoft, EA sign sports game ad deal from Reuters reports Microsoft signed a video game ad deal with Electronic Arts. Microsoft will feed EA’s games, such as Madden, NASCAR, Tiger Woods, NHL and Skate, with advertisements. Cory Van Arsdale, chief executive of Massive, a game ad company Microsoft bought last year, said, “The real issue […]
SearchCap: The Day In Search, June 26, 2007
Below is what happened in search today, as reported on Search Engine Land and from other places across the web.
Survey: Mobile Users Most Receptive To Paid-Search Ads
An Ingenio sponsored survey conducted by Harris Interactive, released today, captured a broad range of user attitudes and behaviors toward mobile phones and mobile advertising. The survey polled just over 4,000 adults in the US. Among other things, it confirmed that more people own mobile phones than landlines and that users were most receptive to […]
Search Funnies: The April Fool’s 2007 Roundup
April Fools Day was yesterday, and the search engines along with others in the search world, went all out. Here is a roundup of the different pranks played.
Google Partners With LG & Mobile Handset Maker Deal Chart
Google has gained another mobile phone handset partnership, this time with LG. As of the second quarter of this year, selected LG handsets shipped throughout the world will be preloaded with mobile versions of Google software, including Google Maps, Gmail and Blogger. Yahoo signed a similar deal with LG in February. It’ll be interesting to […]
GOOG Acquisitions: Trendalyzer & Adscape Media
A quick heads-up on two new Google acquisitions. First, Google has announced the purchase of Gapminder’s Trendalyzer software. Second, it confirms the purchase of Adscape Media, an in-game advertising company, following rumors of a buy last month.
SearchCap: The Day In Search, Feb. 23, 2007
Below is what happened in search today, as reported on Search Engine Land and from other places across the web:
Wikipedia Enters Top Ten Most Visited Sites
Impressive. Scanning the latest top web sites rankings from comScore for January 2007 , Wikipedia sites are highlighted for just entering the top ten most visited. OK, technically — they’re in the top ten for having the most unique visitors. In December 2006, Wikipedia sites were ranked 13th of all US web properties, with 39 […]
VSearch: Embedded Voice Mobile Local Search
Voice technology provider VoiceSignal and directory services company INFONXX are launching an “embedded” voice-driven local search product for mobile phones called “VSearch.” Available starting in March, the two companies described the service in their announcement this morning:
InfoSpace Joins Forces With FAST For Mobile Search
InfoSpace and FAST announced a partnership at 3GSM conference that seeks to marry InfoSpace’s carrier relationships and content expertise with FAST’s search technology and PPC platform on mobile devices. The companies will be offering their new “white label” services and platform to wireless carriers in the U.S. and Europe. That makes the combined InfoSpace-FAST effort […]
SearchCap: The Day In Search, Jan. 25, 2007
Below is what happened in search today, as reported on Search Engine Land and from other places across the web:
AT&T Tests Ad-Supported Directory Assistance (Mobile Local Search)
AT&T is launching an ad-supported directory assistance (DA) service through the phone number 1-800- YellowPages (1-800-935-5697). Right now it’s available in three markets: Bakersfield, CA.; Oklahoma City, OK; and Columbus, Ohio. Described as a “controlled trial,” it’s not clear yet if the service will roll out nationally. However, I would assume so eventually.