Communications Technology

Google might still be the leading search engine in the US by a large margin, but over the last six months, searches powered by Microsoft Bing are increasing at an impressive rate. So impressive, in fact, that if the trend line continues, there will be a real contest between Bing and Google next year — and Bing may just come out on top.

According to the latest data from Experian Hitwise, Google was responsible for 64.42% of searches in the U.S. in March, 2011. Bing-powered search — which includes both search.yahoo.com and bing.com — accounted for 30% of U.S. searches.

The fact that Bing has crossed the 30% mark in the U.S. is significant in and of itself. Looking back through Experian Hitwise’s archives underscores the tremendous amount of growth for Bing-powered search. The rate of growth appears to be increasing.

Last October, Experian Hitwise reported that Google controlled 72.15% of the US search market for September, 2010. Bing powered search accounted for 23.64%. In the last six months, Bing’s market share in the US is up to 30%. Moreover, Bing.com, which represented just 10% of searches in September 2010, represented 14.32% of searches in March, 2011.

Google still clearly leads Bing more than 2 to 1. But when you consider that that ratio was 3 to 1 last fall, the gap appears to be closing. Bing is growing by five or six percent each month, whereas Google is losing two to three percent.

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First it was Roger Federer, then the All Blacks had a crack and now football star David Beckham has wowed the internet with his trick shot prowess - but the question on everyone’s lips is, is it real?

A new clip published on Pepsi’s YouTube channel shows Beckham on a California beach making some seemingly impossible trick shots - he is apparently able to easily shoot three balls into far away garbage cans while barefoot.

The debate over whether the shots are real has sent the clip viral, and it has garnered almost 900,000 views in just a few days. If it is fake it was clearly designed to look spontaneous.

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A new Optus product launched today has been panned by analysts who claim it is a ploy by the telco to force customers to pay for mobile network upgrades that the telco should be making itself.

Australia’s second largest telco launched its 3G Home Zone product today, designed primarily to boost indoor 3G wireless signals for Optus mobile customers at home. There is an upfront cost of between $60 and $240 to install the equipment or a monthly payment of $5 to $15.

The product is based on a new wireless technology called “Femtocell” and Optus claims it is the first Australian carrier to run a commercial pilot of the technology. It essentially uses home broadband connections to create a personal 3G base station for the user.

But analysts believe the real reason behind launching the product is that the Optus mobile network is struggling and Optus would prefer to make consumers fork out money to ensure their mobile phones work at home, as opposed to the telco investing in more mobile towers.

Foad Fadaghi, a telecommunications analyst at Telsyte, said femtocells had typically been used in the US by poor quality carriers that had not invested enough in the capacity of their networks.

“While there are benefits for users not able to switch providers, I would be worried as a consumer if I cannot get mobile reception in my home or office from a carrier, thus needing to resort to Femtocells,” Mr Fadaghi said.

Telstra wasted no time laying into its main rival, saying its fast Next G network did not require such devices. “Femtocells are a means of compensating for poor coverage,” a spokeswoman said.

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