Microsoft plans major attack on Google's home turf
In the battle for the lucrative search engine market, Microsoft is significantly expanding its research and development activities in Europe. To this end, the software giant will establish a research center with offices in Munich, Paris, and London, Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer announced Thursday in Paris. In addition, a bonus program is intended to provide incentives.
Microsoft is significantly expanding its research and development activities in Europe in the battle for the lucrative search engine market. To this end, the software giant will set up a research center with offices in Munich, Paris and London, Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer announced in Paris on Thursday, according to SDA. The new search technology center is an important step in its long-term strategy, said Ballmer. The software group wants to invest more in local markets in the future.
"Online search is still in its infancy, and there is a huge amount of potential to take it far beyond the ten blue links we know today," Ballmer continued. Despite intensive efforts, Microsoft had not been able to even come close to the success of market leader Google's search engine for years.
Microsoft wants to concentrate on three goals in online search. According to Ballmer, these are: Delivering the best search results, simplifying key tasks and developing new innovative business models.
According to its own figures, Microsoft invests an average of 439 million euros in research and development in Europe every year. In the past twelve months, the software group has reportedly spent almost two billion dollars to prepare itself for the online search market in Europe.
Microsoft tries to score points against Google with rewards program
Another report states that Microsoft wants to steal users from its rival Google by means of a rewards program. In a test run, US users of the Microsoft Internet search will initially be credited with points for every query. These can be redeemed for music downloads, T-shirts or even air miles once a certain number of points have been earned. Online search is highly competitive due to the lucrative advertising revenue it generates.
Microsoft's Live Search has recently lost further ground to Google in the USA, despite other incentive programs already in place. The test of the Search Perks program will initially run until mid-April, Microsoft announced on Wednesday.
Each user can earn a maximum of 25 points per day. From 525 points, five songs can be downloaded, 1,000 air miles cost 1,800 points. It was only in May that Microsoft introduced discounts for customers who find and buy products from certain retailers via the software company's search engine.
"Online search is still in its infancy, and there is a huge amount of potential to take it far beyond the ten blue links we know today," Ballmer continued. Despite intensive efforts, Microsoft had not been able to even come close to the success of market leader Google's search engine for years.
Microsoft wants to concentrate on three goals in online search. According to Ballmer, these are: Delivering the best search results, simplifying key tasks and developing new innovative business models.
According to its own figures, Microsoft invests an average of 439 million euros in research and development in Europe every year. In the past twelve months, the software group has reportedly spent almost two billion dollars to prepare itself for the online search market in Europe.
Microsoft tries to score points against Google with rewards program
Another report states that Microsoft wants to steal users from its rival Google by means of a rewards program. In a test run, US users of the Microsoft Internet search will initially be credited with points for every query. These can be redeemed for music downloads, T-shirts or even air miles once a certain number of points have been earned. Online search is highly competitive due to the lucrative advertising revenue it generates.
Microsoft's Live Search has recently lost further ground to Google in the USA, despite other incentive programs already in place. The test of the Search Perks program will initially run until mid-April, Microsoft announced on Wednesday.
Each user can earn a maximum of 25 points per day. From 525 points, five songs can be downloaded, 1,000 air miles cost 1,800 points. It was only in May that Microsoft introduced discounts for customers who find and buy products from certain retailers via the software company's search engine.
