SES Chicago - December 7-11, 2009

November 2, 2009

Bing for Mobile Adds NFL and Flight Instant Answers, Optimized Touchscreen Experience

Bing has updated their mobile search offering, which can be found at m.bing.com. Included in the update are Instant Answers for NFL players as well as Flight Status.

Also included in the update is an optimized experience for certain touchscreen devices used in the United States. Devices include iPhone, Zune HD, T-Mobile G1, Verizon Imagio, and Samsung Omnia. Additional devices will be added in the future.

The navigation is improved and visual search for movies has been implemented. This might be a rolling update because my iPhone didn't show the updated results shown in the blog. The movie search is still very nice on my iPhone, just not what I saw on the Bing blog. Here's two screenshots. The first one is from the Bing blog, the second one from my iPhone.

Posted by Nathania Johnson at 1:23 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

September 24, 2009

Google Mobile App for Windows Mobile Updated with My Location, Search Features

Google has updated its mobile app for Windows Mobile. The update includes My Location, Google Suggest and Search with Maps.

My Location gives local results for searches. Now, if you're searching for local pizza, simply type in pizza instead of a longer query like "pizza + city + state."

Google Suggest is Google's query suggestion feature.

Search with Maps, like My Location, enables local search. You'll need to have Google Maps installed on your phone. Then enter a local search and little red pins will show you relevant search results.

Posted by Nathania Johnson at 1:09 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

March 30, 2009

MySpace Mobile Application to Support Microsoft Windows Mobile and Silverlight

A new MySpace mobile application set to debut this summer will support Microsoft Windows Mobile as well as Microsoft Silverlight. Silverlight is technology similar to Adobe's Flash that powers rich media.

"We are pleased to bring MySpace users the benefits and flexibility of Microsoft's platforms," said Aber Whitcomb, chief technology officer of MySpace. "Our relationship enables app developers to use Silverlight to create engaging MySpace apps and allows Windows Mobile users to have a more personal MySpace experience on their phone."

MySpace already has mobile applications for iPhone, Android, Blackberry, Sidekick, Palm, and Nokia. Related Reading: MySpace Launches Self-Service Ad Platform Facebook & MySpace Connect: Good Idea or Social Media Catastrophe? Google, Yahoo & MySpace Team Up for OpenSocial

Posted by Nathania Johnson at 2:05 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)

March 20, 2009

Google Launches YouTube App for Windows Mobile and Nokia S60 Phones

When the iPhone launched in the summer of 2007 (and a year before the iPhone app store was launched), one of the highlights was that it came standard with a YouTube application. Then, of course, when T-Mobile made the Android-powered G1 available, YouTube was accessible by those mobile users as well. Now, more users of even more phones are getting the ability to experience a YouTube application.

Phones using the Windows Mobile operating system can now download the YouTube mobile app. Additionally, phones in the Nokia S60 series can get the app. A list of the included phones can be found here.

Here's what else to expect, per the Official Google blog:

  • Speed: Faster application start-up, searching, and video loading. For even quicker access, add the application icon to your phone's home screen.
  • Video quality: The application automatically detects your device and network capabilities, and selects the highest available stream quality based on those. Videos will look sharper and sound clearer than ever.
  • WiFi: Improved streaming over WiFi to support a wider range of networks.
  • More robust streaming: Improved buffering ensures that videos will play even in weak coverage areas.
  • Easy video viewing: Once installed, no configuration is required outside of the application. We've worked really hard to make video playback "just work".

Here's a video showing off the YouTube app:

Posted by Nathania Johnson at 3:49 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)

February 16, 2009

Microsoft Unveils Mobile App Marketplace, My Phone, Windows Mobile 6.5

When covering search news, the lines are increasingly getting a bit blurred. Google, the search mammoth, does much more than "just" search. Yahoo's best performing properties are its portal pages. Microsoft started out in software.

Google launched a mobile platform Android, which competes with Microsoft competitor Apple, who of course has seen great success with the iPhone.

The iPhone has truly advanced adoption of the mobile web - and mobile search. But Microsoft was in the game before Apple or Google with Windows Mobile. There have been app markets for Windows Mobile for years, something that is largely unknown, save for the early mobile adopters.

Microsoft, of course, will not just sit by and watch the Google/Apple dominance occur. Instead, they are revamping their game. Today at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Microsoft announced a new marketplace for Windows Mobile apps. There are over 20,000 apps that have beend eveloped over the years. The marketplace will make them easier to find.

Microsoft also introduced the newest version of Windows Mobile, which is 6.5. Last but not least they annouced My Phone, which enables PC/phone syncing.

Incidentally, Google announced its mobile syncing feature last week. They also opened the Android mobile app marketplace to paid apps.

Many mobile apps are all about helping users find what they need or want. You guessed it - SEARCH. And with projections for mobile web traffic showing skyrocketing increases by 2013, new players may appear on the scene. Anyone who has wondered who can catch or beat Google may want to watch this space carefully.

Posted by Nathania Johnson at 3:45 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

January 8, 2009

Microsoft Could Win Mobile Search With Verizon Deal

While Google may own the web search market, Microsoft's announced deal with Verizon could put them at the top of the mobile search space. Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer announced the partnership at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas yesterday.

With the purchase of Alltell expected to be completed soon, Verizon would have the largest market share of the mobile space in the United States.

"Under a five-year agreement, Microsoft Live Search will become the default search service on cellphones and smartphones running on the Verizon Wireless network. Verizon's customers will still be able to access other search services through their mobile Web browsers," the New York Times reported.

Though they can access other engines, just like the browser installed on a computer, most would likely use the default. Given the growing use of mobile devices in place of computer use this could be a major play by Microsoft in what could become the future of search.

Posted by Frank Watson at 4:09 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

May 22, 2008

Microsoft to Bring Advertising to Live Search Mobile

Microsoft has announced the upcoming availability of advertising for Live Search Mobile. The service is currently in private beta, but Microsoft hopes to expand it in the second half of 2008.

The software giant also announced the availability of display advertising on its Windows Live Messenger and Windows Live Hotmail products.

"In today's connected world, the mobile device is emerging as a prime opportunity for advertisers to reach their audience," said Brian Arbogast, corporate vice president of Mobile Services at Microsoft. "This announcement is evidence of our commitment to providing advertisers with further opportunities to connect and engage consumers throughout their 'digital day' -- at home, at work and on the go across multiple platforms, devices and geographic regions."

Related Reading: Price Check! Products Added to Mobile Live Search Spending on Mobile Search Ads to Reach $2bn by 2013

Posted by Nathania Johnson at 12:03 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

May 16, 2008

More Updates for Mobile Live Search

After receiving feedback from the recent updates to Mobile Live Search, the team over at Microsoft has made even more updates. Here's what to expect:

-- Weather -- Traffic coverage for more cities through Live Maps -- Map a Contact -- Speech recognition via Bluetooth (available only on select devices) -- Collections - allows users to search community-generated content. See image below for an example of "dog parks in San Francisco."

What do you think of these updates? Let us know in the comments.

Related Reading: Price Check! Products Added to Mobile Live Search

Posted by Nathania Johnson at 11:35 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

April 29, 2008

Price Check! Products Added to Mobile Live Search

When you're shopping online at home, it's easy to check a bunch of different sites for the best price or read reviews to see if that new gadget you have your eye on is really a dud. But when you're out in the brick and mortar stores, it can be a challenge to get the same answers quickly.

Thankfully, team over at Microsoft's Live Search wants to make it easier for you to conduct that all-important product searching while you're on the go. Product search has been incorporated into Mobile Live Search. The results include prices and a starring system to reflect reviews. Obviously, you can click on individual results for more info.

Another feature being rolled out with the update is "Find My Location." By using this feature, you'll get results close to the nearest cell towers.

Related Reading: Microsoft Rolls Out More Live Search Updates Microsoft Buys MotionBridge, A Mobile Search Company

Posted by Nathania Johnson at 9:47 AM | Permalink

May 3, 2007

Microsoft Buys Mobile Ad Firm

Microsoft has acquired Paris-based mobile ad network ScreenTonic, which serves text and display ads to mobile phones and devices in Belgium, France and the U.K. This is the third mobile ad acquisition in the last 18 months for Microsoft, following its acquisition of Paris-based mobile search and ad provider MotionBridge in February 2006, and voice-enabled mobile search provider TellMe in March 2007.

"The acquisition of ScreenTonic will be part of our long-term strategy to deliver ad experiences that map to the environment. Together, we will be able to provide relevant ads where consumers are, when they are actively engaged and communicating," Steve Berkowitz, senior VP of Microsoft's Online Services Group, said in a statement.

Microsoft expects to deploy its mobile search and ads globally.

Posted by Kevin Newcomb at 1:02 PM | Permalink

March 14, 2007

Microsoft Confirms Tellme Acquisition

The rumors that Microsoft was about to acquire voice-enabled mobile search provider Tellme have been confirmed, with an announcement from Microsoft today.

"Speech is universal, simple and holds incredible promise as a key interface for computing," Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer said in a statement. "Tellme brings to Microsoft the talent, technology and proven experience in speech that will enable us to deliver a new wave of products and revolutionize human-computer interaction."

Potential areas of development resulting from the deal include hosted voice-enabled customer service solutions, voice user interfaces in Microsoft products, and search services on mobile phones that integrate with Live Search.

Posted by Kevin Newcomb at 1:46 PM | Permalink

February 13, 2007

Yahoo, Microsoft Get Mobile

Yahoo and Microsoft have each launched mobile search and advertising initiatives this week. Yahoo has introduced display advertising on its mobile-specific Web sites in 19 countries in the Americas, Europe and Asia. It also released a new version of its downloadable mobile client, Yahoo! Go 2.0. The new "gamma" version features the ability for consumers to search directly from maps and share oneSearch results, news articles and the service directly with friends. Zach Rodgers has the details at ClickZ News.

Microsoft launched Live Search for Mobile at the 3GSM World Congress in Barcelona, releasing v 1.0 of its client application for Windows Mobile devices. Features include category-based local searching, maps and directions, traffic, contacts list integration and "SMS a friend."

In even more mobile news to come out of 3GSM, InfoSpace announced a partnership with FAST to bring FAST's private-label search and advertising platform to InfoSpace's carrier partners in the U.S.; and AdStar announced plans to partner with Nokia to develop a private-label mobile advertising platform.

Posted by Kevin Newcomb at 4:51 AM | Permalink

November 16, 2006

Sprint Launches Mobile Search Relationship With Microsoft

According to the Wall Street Journal, Sprint has launched mobile (local) search has part of a broad new strategic relationship with Microsoft, "allowing its subscribers to use their phones to look up information on local businesses and events and find downloadable multimedia content such as ringtones, videos and games." (Here's the Microsoft release.)

According to the article, the new Microsoft-powered search will appear on the "home page of Sprint's browser." The local search component of the partnership will be monetized with advertising. But there's ambiguity in the way the WSJ describes the ad model and I haven't yet had a chance to discuss this with either party.

Here's how the WSJ describes the advertising aspect of the deal. "The local-search component offers a new revenue stream as well: Businesses can bid to be listed as sponsored links in the local-search directory and will pay a fee when consumers click those links to call them through the service."

So the clicks initiate phone calls to merchants. Whether these placements will be separately auctioned and billed as "calls" or as "clicks" is not clear. I'm assuming this is PPCall advertising and will be priced accordingly.

Microsoft is currently monetizing local search online at MSN search and Live Local through its relationship with SuperPages.com, which includes local PPC and PPCall advertisers. It separately has an exclusive relationship with Ingenio to provide PPCall advertisers for the mobile version of Live.com. Whether advertisers in the Sprint deal are being provided via either or both of those Microsoft relationships is not clear at this moment.

Regardless, the move will likely boost AdCenter's fortunes in the near-to-medium term, with Sprint as a mobile distribution partner. It also further solidifies PPCall as an ad vehicle well suited to mobile.

Sprint has an existing mobile local search relationship with InfoSpace, whose downloadable FindIt application works with Java-enabled Sprint GPS phones. Recently, Sprint also announced a deal with Google's new Java-based "GMail for mobile" initiative. But this is a broader and deeper involvement with Microsoft at the level of the carrier deck.

The WSJ article discusses some of the other partnerships between U.S. carriers and mobile search vendors, such as JumpTap and Medio Systems.

If one steps back, what may now be emerging is a kind of mobile search/feature war among the carriers that may trump their collective concern about being relegated to "dumb pipe" status. Sprint has apparently thrown that conventional wisdom to the wind in its most recent announcements with Google and now Microsoft. The emphasis seems, instead, to be on providing the best mobile search and user experience -- as it should be -- in their competition with other carriers for customer acquisition and loyalty.

There's something of an irony here in that on Windows Mobile smartphones (I have the Sprint PPC-6700) the mobile IE browser is the focus of the mobile Web-search experience. In that context, the mobile search experience is much more a duplication – albeit comparatively weak – of the online experience. What that means is the Window Mobile OS (on smartphones) is likely to merely replicate the market position of Google (or Yahoo) rather than boost Live.com or this new Microsoft-powered Sprint mobile search.

Posted by Greg Sterling at 2:34 AM | Permalink

October 27, 2006

Windows Live Mobile Now Live

Gary Price reports that Windows Live Mobile is now live at http://mobile.live.com/.

The features include: 1) Mail 2) Search beta 3) Spaces 4) Local 5) Messenger 6) Live.com beta 7) MSN.com beta 8) MSNBC News 9) FOX Sports 10) Weather 11) Money 12) Entertainment 13) MSN Calendar

More details at http://mobile.live.com/GoLive/.

Posted by Barry Schwartz at 9:10 AM | Permalink

October 9, 2006

Windows Live Search Mobile PPCall Deal With Ingenio

A few weeks ago Google introduced sponsored listings into mobile search. Yahoo followed last week. Now Microsoft has partnered with Ingenio to deliver pay-per-call listings into Windows Live Search for mobile. But unlike the other two programs this is not being launched in beta.

Ingenio's advertisers are the only paid listings that will appear when users conduct a geotargeted search on Window Live for mobile. There will only be one advertiser shown for any given search and Ingenio's entire inventory will be funneled into Windows Live. When there are no relevant Ingenio advertisers, no sponsored listings will appear. (The company has existing mobile distribution through Jingle Networks' 1800-Free-411 and go2.)

Since Ingenio announced its original deal with AOL (see example) more than a year ago it has been steadily building distribution with smaller players in the local market. This is obviously a very significant relationship and may be a prelude to a broader deal with Microsoft. Ingenio wouldn't comment on that possibility, however.

Microsoft currently offers "call for free" click-to-call functionality on Live Local.

All three of the dominant search providers have now flipped the switch on sponsored listings in mobile. We should see a continuing acceleration of product development and competition in the wireless space. Early evidence argues that response rates (clicks/calls) in a wireless environment will be much higher than clicks on sponsored listings online because there are fewer competing advertisers (due to smaller screens) and users' needs are typically more immediate.

While the number of users conducting searches in a mobile environment is currently a very tiny fraction of what it is online, mobile search will be a significant channel in the next several years as the user experience improves.

Posted by Greg Sterling at 8:45 AM | Permalink

June 22, 2006

New Search Patents: June 22, 2006 - Google File System, Microsoft Blocks, and Yahoo Autonotifications

Google patents the Google File System, Microsoft claims a Functional Object Model for mobile devices, and Yahoo! (Overture) describes an autonotification process to inform advertisers of when a certain condition has been met concerning one of their ads.

Google

The authors of a paper on the Google File System (pdf) are listed as the inventors of this patent filing. Another similarity between the two documents is that both cite mostly the same reference documents. The patent and paper appear to cover much of the same ground. This looks like the patent for the Google File System.

Leasing scheme for data-modifying operations Invented by Sanjay Ghemawat, Howard Gobioff, and Shun-Tak Leung Assigned to Google US Patent 7,065,618 Granted on June 20, 2006 Filed on June 30, 2003

Abstract

A system may facilitate performance of a data-modifying operation in a file network that includes multiple servers that store replicas of data. One of the servers may serve as a primary replica for one of the replicas of data and at least one other one of the servers may serve as at least one secondary replica for the replica of data. The system may send data associated with the data-modifying operation to the primary replica and the at least one secondary replica based on a network topology and independently send a data-modifying control signal that requests execution of the data-modifying operation using the data associated with the data-modifying operation to the primary replica and the at least one secondary replica.

Microsoft

When presenting a web page on a mobile device, it's sometimes best not to display the whole page. But trying to decide which parts to show, and which not to display can be difficult. More information is sometimes needed about the web page.

Microsoft has been experimenting with ways to identify what different parts of a web page do based upon the layout and functions of parts of pages, and a paper from Microsoft that has seen some popularity recently on this type of analysis has been one on Block-level Link Analysis (pdf).

It wasn't a surprise to see Wei-Ying Ma's name on this patent application, as one of the authors of that paper, and an earlier paper on VIPS: a Vision-based Page Segmentation Algorithm.

Another Wei-Ying Ma paper on that topic is Efficient Browsing of Web Search Results on Mobile Devices Based on Block Importance Model (pdf). It cites a function based analysis like the one described in this patent, and points to a document that explains some of the concepts - Function-Based Object Model Towards Website Adaptation (pdf). The other inventor listed in this patent, Jin-Lin Chen, is one of the authors of that paper. Taking a look at those papers may make understanding this patent easier.

Segmenting and indexing web pages using function-based object models Invented by Jin-Lin Chen and Wei-Ying Ma Assigned to Microsoft US Patent 7,065,707 Granted on June 20, 2006 Filed on June 24, 2002

Abstract

By understanding a website author's intention through an analysis of the function of a website, website content can be adapted for presentation or rendering in a manner that more closely appreciates and respects the function behind the website. A website's function is analyzed so that its content can be adapted to different client environments. A function-based object model (FOM) identifies objects associated with a website, and analyzes those objects in terms of their functions. Desktop oriented websites are adapted for mobile devices based on the FOM and on a mobile control intermediary language. While the FOM attempts to understand a website author's intention based on functional analysis of web content, the mobile control intermediary language enables the author to create web content that can be presented in various mobile devices by processing the objects, by extracting forms from the objects, and by generating a file in the mobile control intermediary language for each form.

Yahoo

This patent describes an autonotification system, enabling automated messages to be sent to an advertiser regarding their paid search listings when certain pre-defined conditions are met. Here are the areas those conditions listed in the patent encompass:

  1. Position: related to the position of a listing,
  2. Cost: related to the accumulated costs for some listings,
  3. Account-balance: related to the funds remaining in advertiser's account (e.g., to pay for listings that are clicked on),
  4. Impressions: the number of impressions received by some listings,
  5. Clicks: the number of clicks received by some listings,
  6. CTR: the click through rate of some listings,
  7. CPC-too-high: if the cost per click (CPC) of a listing can be reduced without impacting its rank,
  8. Average CPC too high: the average CPC, the total cost divided by the total clicks, is higher than some threshold,
  9. Rank-CPC: related to the CPC for a given rank and term.

Automatic advertiser notification for a system for providing place and price protection in a search result list generated by a computer network search engine Invented by Narinder Pal Singh, Scott W. Snell, Douglas T. Huffman, Darren J. Davis, Thomas A. Soulanille, and Dominic Dough-Ming Cheung. Assigned to Overture Services, Inc. US Patent 7,065,500 Granted on June 20, 2006 Filed on September 26, 2001

Abstract

A notification method in a computer database system includes receiving a notification instruction from an owner associated with a search listing stored in the computer database system, monitoring conditions specified by the notification instruction for the search listing, and sending a notification to the owner upon detection of a changed condition of the search listing.

My usual reminder about patents: Some of the processes and technology described in patents are created in house, and some are developed with the assistance of contractors and partners. A percentage are never developed in a tangible manner, but may serve as a way to attempt to exclude others from using the technology, or even to possibly mislead competitors into exploring an area that they might not have an interest in (sometimes skepticism is good.)

There are times when a Google or Yahoo acquires a company to gain access to the intellectual property of that company, or the intellectual prowess and expertise of that company's employees. And sometimes patents are just purchased.

Want to comment or discuss? Visit our Search Technology & Relevancy area of the Search Engine Watch Forums.

Posted by Bill Slawski at 3:41 AM | Permalink

March 31, 2006

MSN Local Adds Send To Mobile Phone Feature

Russell Beattie reports that MSN Local has added "Send To Mobile" feature from your business listing. For example, go to my listing here and you will see a link under the address that says, "Send to Mobile." Click on it and a DHTML popup will ask you to input your mobile number. I tried it myself and it sent a text message, with a mobile link to my Treo. Russell accurately notes that Yahoo Local has a similar feature, just the link placement is at the top of the result, on the right and the text used is "Sent to Phone". See my Yahoo Local listing here, to see for your self.

Posted by Barry Schwartz at 9:18 AM | Permalink

February 13, 2006

Microsoft Buys MotionBridge, A Mobile Search Company

News.com reports in Microsoft acquires mobile-search company that Microsoft has acquired MotionBridge. Microsoft is expected to use MotionBridge's solutions to power Windows Live in the future, while continuing to support MotionBridge's current customer base. News.com has a statement from Christopher Payne, MSN's corporate vice president, stating;

The emerging field of mobile search is strategically important and crucial to delivering on our vision for Windows Live of providing a seamless and rich information experience for individuals and businesses across devices.

Posted by Barry Schwartz at 11:12 AM | Permalink

August 14, 2005

Microsoft Adds Local Search and MSN Spaces to MSN Mobile

MSN is joining many other players (the big names as well as many smaller companies) by adding local search* (listings from Yellow and White Page directories) to the MSN Mobile service. Each entry also contains links to a map and turn-by-turn driving directions. More on MSN Search's WebLog. You can demo the beta (along with a beta of a mobile version of MSN Spaces using this url on a non-mobile browser. Learn more about MSN's mobile services here.

* The location box on the mobile search interface lets the user enter a location, Zip Code, or postal code. As expected, US locations/Zips work fine. However, I tried using Canadian locations and postal codes and came up empty.

Btw, in April I blogged about another mobile service from MSN that I find useful. Up-to-the-minute traffic reports delivered via SMS (text messaging.

Posted by Gary Price at 4:11 PM | Permalink

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