Bing is Microsoft’s newest venture into the search engine game and a
replacement for the “Live Search” dud. Although it’s not expected to
overthrow the search engine giant, Google, Bing does bring some new
goodies to the table that are expected to bring some changes to the
way search engines search.

Rather than being labeled as just another search engine, Microsoft
heralds Bing as a “decision engine”. They claim that a the difference
in search functions finds results that are more relevant to the query
and organizes them in a way that is more meaningful to the user.
Microsoft states that Bing focuses on four search types, or
“verticals”: researching health conditions, trip planning, purchase
decisions, and locating local businesses.

Bing offers quite a few new tools for the search savvy, as long as you
are searching in Bing’s area of expertise. If you were, for example,
shopping for a particular coat, Bing would quickly return your
results. Unlike Google or Yahoo!, Bing also presents the item
according to item name, number, or even color as well as prices,
ratings, and product reviews.

Another shopper-friendly feature is the Bing’s cash back program. Each
time you purchase an eligible product through Bing, you will see a
“Bing cashback” link and a savings percentage. The savings accumulate
in your Cashback account, up to $2500 per year. After you have
accumulated at least $5, you may claim your rewards via check, direct
deposit or Paypal.

When searching for flights, Bing will automatically present you with a
list of flight costs when you enter your starting point and
destination as “flights from Indianapolis to Houston”. The list also
indicates whether prices are likely to rise, fall, or vary according
to dates. Bing’s travel interface even allows you to compare prices
from multiple sites to be sure you’re getting the best rate possible.

Best for business owners is the local business search. Bing not only
lists local businesses, it allows users to easily refine their search
using specific criteria so that they get their hands on exactly the
businesses they need. Once they are looking at individual businesses,
the users will see customer reviews, driving directions, business
“scorecards” and more.

The cool new toys and glowing reviews are decent indicators that Bing
will attract a following that is sure to benefit the businesses
listed. The best news is that Bing lists small businesses free of
charge!