Microsoft and Search Engines...

Microsoft unveils cash back search service

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'Radical idea' Analyst Roger Kay of Endpoint Technologies Associates said the Microsoft strategy could help boost traffic through the company's sites. "The cash-back idea is pretty radical, but also as old as the hills: buying the business," he said. "Still, it's likely to be the most effective mechanism yet for stimulating traffic through Microsoft's properties."

It may seem radical to the current selection of search engines, but there has been several attempts at this kind of rewards for searching. Iwon was one that I looked at. Also there was one before (forgot name) that supposedly gave money just for searching but I could never get it to work on any search I was interested in. I do not make many purchases on-line compared to the number of searches I do. When I do make purchases I use portals like https://lty.s.upromise.com/welcome.do?cx=l1 (Upromise) that gives cash back to online purchases.

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He added: "These oil-patch guys have tons of money, but it must be humiliating for the brilliant software types at Yahoo to be pushed around by dudes who don't know a procedure call from a cattle call."

That is funny!

The search-engine dilemma Commentary: What are really needed are new and better services
Much of his points I have already read John C. Dvorak state and I take exception to the idea that something really brilliant did not come to market because of some back room deals. If Google had the next mouse trap-would it not promote it?

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Search engines stink What is really needed are new and better search engines. To be honest about it, Google, Yahoo and Microsoft all stink. We all know this is true. Sure, you can find the major and obvious sites with any of them. But seriously try and find, for example, the best knitting site. Go ahead: Type in the keywords "best knitting site" into Google and tell me which site, out of the 300,000-plus results Google returns, is really the best knitting site. It cannot be done, despite the fact that there must be a best one. A group of knitters might know, or maybe not. It's getting more difficult to find anything with a narrow target using any of these search engines. Recently, I was searching for a Barack Obama citation for an article and could not find it on Google; there were too many results to be useful.

Yes, search engines suck since they are all based on "keywords". The engines can find words but it can not provide a human element to it by determining whether it is random words strewn together or a coherent text. It can't determine if the site is for or against an idea. Search Dick Cheney ,and with Google bombing, 8 out of 10 in the front page are criticisms of him. Anyway, something that does take some of my time in the day to explore these issues.


Microsoft obviously still needs an Internet play

The company needs to do something to get its Internet business profitable and growing faster. One cynical view is that its offer for Yahoo was a pure Machiavellian way to deflect attention from other acquisitions it could be plotting. Any other deals it may do will likely pale in comparison to the hefty price it was looking to pay for Yahoo.

Yes something I have thought about also, but their actions are speaking loudly they want Yahoo. As far as THERESE POLETTI'S view about the regulatory hurdles, I don't see much problems except for the EU which has shown over time a willingness to twist the nose of Mr. Softy.

With search overture, Microsoft gets to the point
I really do not think it is too late for anyone to get into the search engine market especially someone that already has an established name and much of the infrastructure. The issue is whether a better mouse trap can be developed and from above I think so.

"It does mean you don't get swallowed by Google, and Google doesn't effectively become 90% of the market," said Keith Hylton, a Boston University Law School professor. "The whole business of tying up with Google meant advertisers there would shift to Google over time."

I really doubt that Google could ever reach 90% of the market. I could see that happen in a market that has no possibility of innovation, but not in the search market and advertising market now.