A new search engine is up and running, and you can bet it’s aiming for Google. The new kid on the block is called BING and it was developed by the Gate Bank…um, I mean Microsoft. There is no question that search engines are big business considering that they are the primary way we get around on the net, but does Bing have what it takes to compete with the megalith Google?

Maybe, and maybe not. First of all, Bing is designed with 4 key areas in mind:

1. To help folks make a purchasing decision
2. To help folks who are planning a trip
3. To help folks who are researching a health condition and finally
4. To help folks find local businesses

While all of these tasks are noble, to be sure, I am not sure that Google has done a bad job thus far in any of the areas. Of course, a more intuitive search engine that helps people further define what they are looking for and provide more specific results is not a bad thing, isn’t this why social bookmarking sites where developed?

Because Bing is so new, it simply has not had time to properly categorize and index all the websites that are available on the net. A recent search I performed on Google returned more than 10,000,000 results, while the same one on Bing returned only a few hundred thousand. I am sure that Bing will become much more universal over time, but considering the incredible MAJORITY of the marketshare that Google currently owns, it will be tough for it to “catch up” if not overtake the search engine king.

Yes, Google is huge, and one reason is that they have generally tried to do the right things in order to get to and stay on top. This includes listening to internet users, trying and testing different technologies to perfect them (and admitting they are not finished yet…Microsoft could learn a thing or two here…) and working to provide additional functions and opportunities for everyone. The Google Ad sense and Ad Words program alone provides opportunity for thousands of people to earn at least part of their yearly income through Google. Bing would have to come up with a program to rival these successful Google creations as well if it wants to compete.

All in all, Microsoft’s Bing search engine is not a bad offering and maybe event trump Google in a few categories, but considering the marketshare and branding power of Google, it doesn’t look like they will be dethroned anytime soon. Don’t believe me? Google it.

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