Ping brings Bing to social-networking party

 

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By Stuart Turton

Posted on 4 Sep 2009 at 17:25

Microsoft is adding a new service to its Bing search engine, allowing you to share search results through social networks.

The feature, dubbed Bing & Ping, will bring up icons for Facebook and Twitter beneath search results. Clicking them will then allow users to post the result to their profiles.

Among the uses for the service, Microsoft envisions: "Share a neighbourhood plumber recommendation with a friend, tweet local movie times, or post a flight status with your Facebook pals while you're trying to bum a ride from the airport."

In a strange decision, Microsoft has left Windows Live off the list of supported services causing a few grumbles from the Redmond faithful.

"What about sending an IM? Or using Windows Live 'shared favourites', or updating my Windows Live Messenger status?" notes one poster on the Microsoft Bing blog. "I think it's great that you're embracing all the other web services out there, but how can MS expect other websites/businesses to embrace its online services when MS's own properties often don't?"

Thus far, Microsoft's only response has been to cheerfully note "this is great feedback!", offering no further detail.

Anybody hoping to try out Bing & Ping will need to become a fan of Bing on Facebook, and then hope they are sent an invite.