Bing Moves to Become the Wolfram Alpha Male of Web Search
August 23, 2009
Activewin.com’s “Bing Strikes Licensing Deal with Wolfram Alpha” caught my attention. The write up said that the deal…allows Bing to present some of the specialized scientific and computational content that Wolfram Alpha generates. Active Win gives TechCrunch a nod for the original news item.
Several observations seem to be warranted:
- I had heard that Wolfram Alpha was a concern to some at Google. When the system rolled out in Boston, the Google tried to upstage the event. Google likes to control the focus of search innovation, and I found the “timing” in line with other search moves that perturbed the Google.
- Wolfram Alpha has been making changes. The system remains difficult to use for many of those with whom I spoke.
- Microsoft, like Yahoo before it, is in “collect search systems” mode. The approach can lead to significant integration chores and costs.
Will this make it possible for Microsoft to whittle away at Google’s 75 to 80 percent market share in Web search?
No, but it may make it possible to Microsoft to add some eye candy to Wolfram Alpha and capture the segment of Web searchers who need “answer” types of outputs. Google may have to take some of its toys from the Google cellar and give them to users. If Microsoft keeps making these types of deals, the Google will look flat footed to some.
Stephen Arnold, August 23, 2009
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