At BlackBerry World 2011, Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer announced that Bing will now be integrated into all BlackBerry products. Google has long held the keys to the search kingdom – including mobile search – but mobile and search marketers should consider that Bing for BlackBerry could give Microsoft an edge.
As Engadget reports, Ballmer explained to BlackBerry World attendees that Microsoft and RIM have partnered, and Bing will become a staple of all BlackBerry products. Bing will provide the maps for BlackBerry, and it will also be added to BlackBerry devices' operating system. Engadget reports that this will account for a number of updates, including Bing-powered voice and location-aware search.
This means mobile marketers should keep their eye on Bing. As Brafton has reported, mobile searches are reaching new highs. A Google study shows 77 percent of smartphone owners use search engines on a regular basis.
Plus, Nielsen data shows that Android is the most desired operating system in the mobile market, but RIM is still a major player. RIM's BlackBerry OS accounts for 15 percent of recent acquisitions, and it represents nearly one-quarter (22 percent) of the overall market.
The BlackBerry/Bing update will be included in all BlackBerry products moving forward.
