Bing to feature as default search engine on BlackBerry

Microsoft Corp's Bing will be the default search engine and map application on Research In Motion's (RIM) BlackBerry smartphones, which spells a boon for the software maker as it tries to expand in mobile devices and catch up with Google Inc.

Bing will be "deeply integrated" into the devices, creating "unique experiences for millions of BlackBerry customers," Microsoft chief executive officer Steve Ballmer said today at the annual BlackBerry World trade show in Orlando, Florida.

He said the partnership would be ready in time for the holiday shopping season later this year.

Microsoft is trying to take on Google, which has a share of the US search market that is over four times larger than that of Bing. The RIM partnership marks an advance in Microsoft's march in mobile devices. The software giant has already signed a pact with Nokia Oyj, the world's largest mobile-phone maker by unit sales.

Microsoft, in a bid to increase its market share, has added search features and stepped up its marketing efforts and, in the process, has also teamed up with former rival Yahoo Inc.

According to research firm ComScore Inc, Google had 65.4 per cent of searches in February as against 13.6 per cent of Bing.
 
RIM, the second-largest North American smartphone maker, is trying to pack its handsets with additional features to beat its larger rival Apple Inc and the Bing announcement is among several planned to generate buzz for the PlayBook and a touch-screen edition of the BlackBerry Bold it debuted at the show yesterday.