As Bing starts to pop up on Blackberrys across the country (or would that be Blackberries?) user satisfaction plummets. The agreement between Verizon and Microsoft to install Bing as the default mobile search engine is ruffling feathers at Twitter and elsewhere.
According to the Bing Blog, Microsoft has:
…announced a five-year relationship with Verizon Wireless that covers mobile search and mobile advertising. Verizon Wireless subscribers in the U.S. will be able to use Live Search on their mobile devices to find information on local business and shopping information, access maps and directions, find ringtones and other mobile products and services. This partnership will give Verizon Wireless customers great search results and provide targeted, relevant mobile advertising to enhance the overall mobile computing experience.
Verizon chimes in with their side of the story, extolling the virtues of Bing:
With BingTM integrated search capabilities, Verizon Wireless customers will now have easier access to context-relevant search results to improve the mobile experience. Depending on which device they use, customers will be able to use voice commands and typed queries and even select to use location-aware searches to receive highly relevant search results, including maps, directions, traffic information, information on local businesses, movie theaters and show times, gas prices, and weather. In addition, customers will also get search results that include news and entertainment content such as V CAST downloadable full-track songs, ringtones and ring back tones. Verizon Wireless customers will be able to access Bing from a downloadable application or through Verizon Wireless’ Mobile Web services.
…then backpedals fast in the wake of consumer outrage:
Verizon Wireless is passionate about ensuring consumer choice in the wireless sector.
Customers still have all the choices they did before. Verizon offers many ramps onto the Internet, including all search engines.
If you love Google and don’t want to use Bing, there are great options . . . Choice is yours. Verizon isn’t blocking or degrading anything; just providing a great option for customers.
If Verizon had rolled out the change a bit differently they perhaps could have avoided some of the hue and cry. As it is, Blackberry users are irritated.
Tags: Bing, Blackberry, Microsoft, verizon