While the blogosphere focused on Microsoft's cashback deal, the software giant was plugging away at another, behind-the-scenes deal that would secure it even more search market share. It's a deal with
HP for Live Search to be packaged as the default engine with all new computers--and Microsoft wrestled the agreement away from Yahoo.
Starting January 2009, new HP computers sold in
North America will include an edition of Internet Explorer that includes a special Live Search toolbar. Of course, Live Search will be set as the default engine in the search box, and the toolbar will
include Microsoft's rich media and video platform Silverlight.
In the software giant's own words, this deal is the most "significant" PC distribution deal it has ever done. And as
Danny Sullivan notes, the deal is "far more important to Live Search's potential growth," than any cashback promotion.
Writer's note: My apologies for citing the same blogger
twice in this column. Let's just say Danny Sullivan was quite the wordsmith this weekend.
Read the whole story at Search Engine Land »