France plans ‘Google tax’ on internet searches
France is planning a tax on search engine ad revenue to raise money to invest into creative industries weakened by the digital revolution. Besides Google, the tax would target other large operators in Europe such as Microsoft and Yahoo! whether or not their offices are in France. Google’s European headquarters are in Ireland, but under the proposal, the operator would pay a levy every time a French internet user clicks on an advertising... [Read More...]
Bing launches in UK
Microsoft’s search engine Bing has officially launched in the UK, following a five-month trial. The search engine has already attracted 16 million users in the UK, taking a 39 per cent share of the search market, according to comScore. Bing, which has been in testing since it launched in the US in June, will position itself as “the faster way to make informed choices”. In a further bid to rival Google, Bing will also have a different... [Read More...]
TripAdvisor launches flight meta search engine
TripAdvisor has unveiled a flight meta search engine on its UK site, eight months after the launch of the service in the US. The meta search engine has been given a UK-centric focus and features the fees estimator with information on fees and charges across scheduled and no-frills airlines as well as estimated onboard food and drink costs. Prior to launching the UK search engine, TripAdvisor carried out research on flight booking behaviour among... [Read More...]
Bing gains ground on Google in US search market
Microsoft’s new Bing search engine has gained nearly one per cent market share in the US since its launch in June, while Google has lost ground, according to new research. The data, from comScore, indicates that Microsoft’s search engine still remains a distant third in the US, which was the main reason for the search ad partnership with Yahoo set to start next year. Bing ended July with an 8.9 per cent share in the US, up from 8.4 per cent... [Read More...]
Yahoo and Microsoft confirm landmark search deal to rival Google
Yahoo and Microsoft have confirmed a landmark search deal that will result in Microsoft’s Bing being used to power Yahoo’s search, which will maintain its own branding. The search deal aims to rival Google, which dominates more than 80 per cent of all UK search, and will see each company maintain its own separate display advertising business and sales force. But Yahoo will become the exclusive worldwide relationship sales force for both... [Read More...]