Microsoft announced on Dec. 2 new features for Bing, its search engine, that include updated Bing Maps with Streetside eye-level views and a Twitter feed. Many of the features of Microsofts Bing Maps Beta seem intent on integrating online cartography with real-time information from the Web. In addition to current traffic and live Webcam feeds, Bing Maps Beta offers up local color in the form of images of quirky billboards and graffiti and updates on community events.
Microsoft is integrating more features into Bing as it seeks to compete more vigorously in the online-search space against Google. Currently, Bing occupies roughly 9.6 percent of the U.S. search-engine market, according to a Nov. 11 research note by Experian Hitwise, while Google occupies 70.6 percent.
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