The success of the Windows 7 Operating System is the main reason why Microsoft posted $19.02 Billion dollars of revenues this fiscal year – up 14 percent on the previous year’s 16.63 Billion turnover.
Bing Profits Down
The company’s Online Services division (which includes online advertising and Bing) made 581 million dollars compared to 609 million dollars in the previous year. Whilst these figures are perhaps not as desirable as they could be, Bing is nevertheless making steady gains in search market share. Recent high profile deals with HP, Dell and other brands, as well as Verizon (mobile) are impressive for their PR value, but they will make little in-roads into Google’s lofty position in both PC and mobile search.
Bing To Replace Google On iphone?
One particular threat to Google has arrived in the form of a rumour regarding the replacement of the iphone default search engine – currently Google – with Bing. This would be big news indeed, but all the signs are that it will come to nothing.
Apple CEO Eric Schmidt recently described the Google relationship with Apple as “stable”, and talk of engine replacement has also been downplayed by Google. The irony of the two old enemies – Microsoft and Apple – joining forces in order to undermine Google could be ignored by few.
Google, Microsoft and Bing – Friends or Foes?
All three players look set to be partners in some areas, but rivals in others; one example of partnership is the showcasing of Google Maps at an Apple ipad show.
Google seems firmly installed on the iphone, accounting for even more traffic than resulted from non search traffic (URLs entered directly into browser). Even if an iphone switch from Google to Bing did take place, it is uncertain how much of an effect it would have on overall search volumes.
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