Microsoft’s Bing search engine has is getting a big boost from BlackBerry.
Making an unexpected appearance Tuesday at Research In Motion’s annual BlackBerry World event, Microsoft chief Steve Ballmer turned up to announce that Bing is formally replacing Google’s search and mapping tools as BlackBerry’s default options.
Ballmer said the integration of Bing “would go deeper than just applications, and would be done at an operating system level.” The news comes after Microsoft’s announced plans to make larger investments in “integrating RIM’s technology into its cloud offerings.”
“This goes way beyond a search box,” Ballmer said. “We’re really excited about this partnership.”
Google’s search technology remains the default option on BlackBerry rival Apple Inc.’s iPhone devices.
“Central to this collaboration,” the Bing Team subsequently announced on the Official Bing Community Blog, “Blackberry devices will use Bing as the preferred search provider in the browser, and Bing will be the default search and map application for new devices presented to mobile operators, both in the United States and internationally.”
It was also noted that, effective today, Bing will be the preferred search and maps applications with regular, featured placement and promotion in the BlackBerry App World carousel.
