Microsoft says they can beat Google

Posted on March 4, 2006
Filed Under I'm lovin it |

Microsoft’s announcement that they will introduce a search engine better than Google in six months created quite a bit of buzz in the search space. Bloggers are referring to old statements by Microsoft executives who proposed the same claim, pointing out that they did not meet expectations previously and demonstrating doubt that they will do it this time. Influencers discuss their doubt that any engine can accomplish this in six months.

“In some very bold statements by Microsoft they are saying they will be better than
Google soon. Based on my one week of not using Google all of the search engines
have a long way to go to beat Google but the gauntlet has been laid
down.” – Geek News Central

”Microsoft’s top execs might want to cut down on the whole predictions business. Last June, Steve Ballmer was quoted saying that Microsoft’s search engine would introduce a search engine that would match Google’s relevance in six months. Well, January 28th (exactly six months) came and went….Anyway, a month later, and suddenly Microsoft is out saying that this time it’s only going to be another six months before their search engine is as good as Google’s in the US. Either way, just
getting to meet or beat Google in relevance is probably not enough to get people
to switch. For many users, Google remains “good enough.” Other search engines
need to come up with something that is overwhelmingly better — to the point
that people feel compelled to switch. It seems unlikely that such a battle will
be fought just over relevancy, however, but in some other area where Google
doesn’t have as much expertise.” – Mike Masnik-Techdirt

“I seem to remember not too long ago Microsoft claiming that the new MSN Search was going to mop the floors with Google. Whether or not I just imagined that,
Microsoft is playing the same tune today. Reuters reports that Microsoft expects to “be more relevant in the U.S. market place than Google” in six months time with the launch of a new search engine. They claim the new search engine will do more than just fetch URLs, pulling relevant data from around the web like real estate and restaurant listings instead of just links. That sounds familiar. While Microsoft’s dream of having Google beat in six months seem, to put it kindly, a little fanciful—a year or two and anything could happen, but six months?—I have no doubt that they’re up to something interesting and that Google won’t spend the intervening time resting on its
laurels.” - Jordan Running-Download Squad

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