Amazon switches to Microsoft
2006-05-02 08:40
Los Angeles - Microsoft Corp. scored an important win against rival Google Inc. over the weekend, as internet retailer Amazon.com began using Microsoft technology to power its A9 search unit.
Microsoft's new Windows Live is at the core of the
company's efforts to win online advertising dollars away from
Google Inc. and Yahoo Inc. A9 had previously been powered by
Google.
Amazon's search engine, A9, breaks down searches into
various categories, such as web searches, book searches, and
blog searches. It is a stand-alone search site, www.a9.com, as
well as the search technology used on the www.amazon.com website.
A9 chief executive David Tennenhouse told Reuters that
Windows Live presented a "very interesting, powerful web search
option" that had previously been featured on the A9 site.
Google contract expired
Tennenhouse said the Google search was removed from the
site on Sunday, following the expiration of that contract. He
would not comment on the terms of the Microsoft deal, or
whether a new contract with Google had been an option.
Microsoft's new search engine and user interface
consolidates a variety of the software giant's web services
such as search, email, instant messaging and security at its
Live.com site.
Senior product manager at Microsoft's MSN internet unit,
Justin Osmer, confirmed that Google's contract with Amazon.com
had expired, but did not elaborate on what was behind the
switch.
"It's another opportunity to reach a new segment for us and
get people acquainted with the Windows Live search brand,"
Osmer said.
Microsoft was lagging
Google and Yahoo built multibillion-dollar businesses
supported mainly by online ad sales from search, while
Microsoft lagged behind. But Microsoft now aims to close the
gap with Windows Live and a new pay-per-click advertising
system called adCenter.
"We view this as more of a marathon than a sprint," said
Osmer.
MSN's search engine lost market share again to Google and
Yahoo in March. Its US share fell to 11% from 14%, while Google and Yahoo each gained, rising to 49% and 22% of the search market, respectively,
according to Nielsen//NetRatings.
Google did not return a phone call seeking comment.