Bing me. Bing it. It's time to Bing and decide. Prepare yourself as Microsoft wages its all-out advertising assault on Web-surfing lingo.
Last week, the software giant launched its new online search engine, Bing. It's spending an estimated $80 million to $100 million on a campaign to shape Bing.com as a "decision engine" for consumers.
What will you find there?
Bing focuses on four experiences: making a purchase, planning a trip, researching a health condition and finding a local business.
Like Google, Bing also provides tools to search videos, images, news and maps updated with real-time traffic info.
Bing enters a search engine landscape dominated by Google, which holds more than 81 percent of the global market, according to statistics by Market Share. Yahoo, in second, garners a little more than 9 percent.
Will Bing's consumer focus win people over?
Dewey Davis-Thompson, who owns Internet Adept Inc., a St. Petersburg Web design service, said he hasn't seen anything beyond Bing's glossy interface to capture his attention.
"They may catch up with Google, but I don't know about surpassing it," he said. "Google is a word like Coke — like Kleenex or Trojan.
"People don't use a search engine. They Google."
Will they also Bing?
Things you can Bing
• Bing Shopping gives consumers user reviews with their product searches and offers cash back for some purchases.
• Bing Travel allows users to search for plane tickets and hotel rooms, and check flight statuses.
• Bing Health finds how-to's and quick definitions from credible sources.
• Bing Local helps users find restaurants and other services with maps and reviews.
Visit Bing.com and tell us what you think at money.tampabay.com or on Twitter at twitter.com/SPTimesMoney.
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