Facebook Abandons Microsoft’s Bing Search Results (MSFT, FB)

Earlier today, Facebook has confirmed that it will no longer include search results from Microsoft’s search engine Bing on its website.

The deal to include Bing’s search results on the social networking site started around the time when Microsoft purchased its Facebook stake, back in 2007. The deal was renewed in the year 2010.

Confirmed by a company spokesperson, the decision to stop Bing’s search results came as Facebook improved its own search results, where it introduced a tool that allow users to quickly search older comments and other information posted and shared by their Facebook friends.

Search is becoming more and more important on Facebook. It has already introduced a new search feature that will allow users to search through separate posts and not only through pages.

The decision will definitely affect Microsoft’s market share, which was already weakened due to the current redesign of MSN. However, the decision may reveal the growing importance Facebook sees in web search technology, which is undoubtedly a market dominated by its rival Google Inc.

The spokesperson said, “We’re not currently showing web search results in Facebook Search because we’re focused on helping people find what’s been shared with them o Facebook. We continue to have a great partnership with Microsoft in lots of different areas.” Meanwhile, at that time Microsoft wasn’t available for the comment.

According to industry research company comScore, Microsoft’s Bing is the No.2 web search provider in the United States with almost a 20 percent share of the market.