Summary: Bong [sic] is going nowhere (and quite fast!), says a Microsoft 'partner' which swaps data with Microsoft

IN reality, Microsoft's search (it's currently called/branded "Bing", but it's the same as ever) has been a big failure (or Bing failure, unless you're a Microsoft spinner); so much more was spent on "exclusives" and advertising (perhaps billions in the past year alone).

Nielsen, which Microsoft is working with (thus a conflict of interests), says that even in the United States Microsoft is declining [1, 2]. Microsoft Nick says:

According to Nielsen, both Yahoo and Bing seem to have lost ground to Google heading into the beginning of 2010. It could be a monthly fluctuation. But it could also be perceived as a potential problem for Microsoft, when you consider that November-December timeframe saw the company launch a whole host of new features for its search-engine designed to bring it into more direct competitive alignment with Google.

Good. Google's gains at Microsoft's expense are are good news for Free software, for reasons we explained before.

“It is worth remembering that the only market Google has not conquered yet is China.”Regarding Google in China, there is speculation that Google could be pulling a stunt there to beat Baidu; it could be a business decision. Google is required to serve shareholders, not morals or nations.

Given the circumstances, Baidu will be seen as conspiring with suppression and Google becomes the "brave rebel"; if Google returns later, it will be greeted.

It is worth remembering that the only market Google has not conquered yet is China. Of course, it could be just a speculation, but some people in our IRC channels made it sound rather compelling an analysis. The attacks on Google are most likely genuine, but it's how they respond to them which matters. It smells like political PR. ⬆