Google’s new innovation was just matched this week by a developer at Microsoft who was rumored to have written the application in just over a day.
Even more amazing is perhaps the short run that Google had with being the only kid on the block with the instant search toy.
It appears that Microsoft has built its own instant search using Bing APIs and some low-key timing settings. This accounts for a slight lag but it is predicting results as soon as you start typing keywords. It then works by analyzing 100 milliseconds between each key stroke, and as soon as you pause, bing references the api to get the suggestions.
I personally tried the application, and for all intents and purposes, it feels like the Google instant search. I didn’t really notice much of a relevance difference nor quicker results; pretty much it is the same application in my experience.
You can try the new application for yourself, currently at www.binginstant.com.
However, progress is rarely without cost, and it appears that in the wake of the Yahoo and Microsoft partnership, Search Advertisers could be the ones paying for all this innovation.
The effect of this new partnership is perhaps a possible rate hike of about of 64% for unbranded keywords and 78% for branded keywords. Keep in mind that while this seems outrageous, you can minus 50% if you had formerly advertised on both Yahoo and Bing; now they are one and the same from an advertiser standpoint, so you are only able to place ads with Microsoft now. The high cost is mostly a result of supply and demand, no matter how you shake it; cut the supply in half, the price must go up.
In fact, even after this pricing rollercoaster all shakes out, Bing’s paid-search advertising could stay up to 23% higher than before the partnership. This is because CPC is expected to increase at the same time as the shift from using both Yahoo and Bing, goes to just using Microsoft alone.
So while advertisers will pay a premium, the end users will collect benefits. Microsoft recently stated that it is going to essentially “pay for you to play” with regard to Bing.
They are rolling out a points / reward program that will encourage you to stay on Bing, try out its applications, and use its searching.
To start, you can receive 250 credits just for signing up and then you get more credits by jumping through a few Microsoft hoops or even just doing some Bing searches; all on their terms.
How will this work and what terms are required to get to the good stuff?
Well, if you set your browser search to default to Bing, or if you try some of the new Bing features, then for every five of these new Bing searches you get a credit which tops out at eight credits per day.
But you cant just start earning points, there are a few rules and step that need to be followed.
First, to get started, you must install the new “Bing Bar” on your computer. This is how they are going to keep track of the new points system.
Keep in mind however, this can only be accomplished by both having and running your Windows Live ID.
If you do not have this, it is fairly easy to get and its free. Given that this is all Microsoft’s idea, it makes sense and is really not too much to ask.
So after you secure your Window’s live ID, you may not necessarily be done.
One obvious requirement is that you must be using a Windows-based computer; Google’s Chrome, Firefox, or Apple’s Safari wont get you through the door this time.
They may have started as open source, but there is one truism when they give things away at Microsoft;
nothing is ever free.
