Facepalm: Regardless of being the world’s second-largest search engine, Bing continues to carry a minuscule market share in comparison with Google. Microsoft is clearly dissatisfied with this disparity and is making each effort to drive even a modest improve in consumer site visitors, even when it borders on being unethical.
Microsoft not too long ago launched one other tactic in its ongoing efforts to encourage customers to decide on Bing over Google. The Redmond-based company appears acutely conscious that many customers seek for “Google” on Bing, and it has devised a technique to capitalize on this conduct, establishing what can solely be described as a intelligent “lure” for this particular question.
As first reported by Home windows Newest, customers who seek for “Google” on Bing with out being signed right into a Microsoft account encounter a uniquely designed web page. This web page includes a central search field styled to resemble a Google Doodle, whereas commonplace Bing search outcomes seem beneath.
Curiously, the design conceals the standard Bing search field on the prime of the web page, steering customers towards the central field to course of their queries by Bing’s servers. The imitation Google web page seems throughout Edge, Chrome, and Firefox browsers, disappearing solely when the consumer logs into their Microsoft account.
Microsoft has employed numerous ways to drive customers into adopting Bing and Edge up to now, however resorting to imitating Google’s homepage marks a brand new low for the Redmond firm. Even the not too long ago launched official Bing app has been noticed participating in questionable, malware-like conduct on customers’ PCs to additional advance Microsoft’s enterprise agenda.
The actual concern lies in Microsoft’s monopolistic method to know-how – although it is value noting that many different firms make use of related methods to maximise income and reduce bills. Google, for example, which was not too long ago declared a monopoly within the search engine market by US authorities, can be infamous for leveraging its dominant place to stifle competitors.
Google usually shows notifications on its web sites, encouraging customers to obtain and use the Chrome browser as a substitute of Edge or Firefox. Nonetheless, even in gentle of the US Division of Justice’s current ruling, Google’s ways seem considerably much less aggressive in comparison with Microsoft’s relentless push to advertise Bing.