'Bing' the new search engine of RIM

By siliconindia   |   Wednesday, 04 May 2011, 22:02 IST
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'Bing' the new search engine of RIM
Bangalore: Research In Motion (RIM), one of the world leaders in wireless technology has opted the use of Microsoft's "Bing". Bing is a search engine and provides mapping services on BlackBerry devices. This step by RIM will give a close competition to Apple and Google. The first demonstration of the Bing on a BlackBerry device was done by Microsoft on a BlackBerry torch 9800. Recently at a press conference held in Orlando, Microsoft's CEO Steve Ballmer said, "Bing will be deeply integrated at the BlackBerry operating system level on RIMs new Smartphones." The usage of Microsoft's Bing has also resulted in RIMs close partnership with Adobe systems and the strategic plans of mutual co-operation in the mobile market. Bing will be BlackBerry's preferred browser. BlackBerry Playbook already uses Bing for browsing and maps. The search and the mapping technology will also include location based services. According to reports suggested, Microsoft had about 14 percent of the U.S. search market in March, while Google had about 66 percent. Now that every handset company has come up with its Smartphone, Bing might gain an increased usage in the browser market. RIM has also gained a foothold in mapping and search without investing directly. RIM stepped down with its quarterly earnings outlook last week on weaker BlackBerry sales as it faces rigorous competition from the iPhone and handsets running Google's Android software. The BlackBerry 7 OS which was recently unveiled will help it compete with Google and Apple. But the major worry for RIM and Microsoft is that 30 percent of the Smartphone users said that they plan to buy an Apple iPhone. Only 11 percent said they expected to buy a BlackBerry. And least was only 7 percent who said they are planning to buy a Microsoft Windows Phone 7 device.