Microsoft says, "Bing it on!"

Microsoft has launched "Bing it on" vs. Google.

Microsoft is attracting attention to its Internet search challenge versus Google. Inspired by Pepsi's taste challenge in the the 1970s and 1980s, Microsoft has initiated a contest with Google called "Bing it on!"Microsoft is taking it to the streets and asking users to test and vote which search engine they prefer. If you were watching the MTV Video Music Awards on Thursday you may have seen Microsoft's TV ad highlighting the contest.








Microsoft plans to invade popular cities to showcase its search engine savvy. However, this will prove to be a difficult task when google is in a verb in the dictionary, synonymous with "search."Since Bing's launch in June 2010, bing has increased its market share by 8.4% to now occupying 15.6% according to comScore. In it's own blind studies, Microsoft claims that people prefer bing two to one over Google.

To truly represent this fact, Microsoft is providing an on-line tool at bingiton.com, where users can see firsthand the search results between Google and Bing on the same page. After ranking results five times, the site will identify which is liked best by users.

Microsoft has already capture users testing the simulation site on the streets of San Francisco in June. To put high stakes on the contest, Microsoft bet that if users preferred Bing, then the person had to give Microsoft a personal item. However, if a person liked Google search results more, Microsoft would give them a free Xbox. So far Microsoft has accumulated more piles of random personal items than it has given away Xboxes.

Do you believe this? Take the test!

Although this is an impressive and sensational publicity stunt, Google still dominates the search engine market with 67%. Bing now occupies 15.6% of the search engine market and "most of that growth is gained from Yahoo, a Microsoft partner whose search engine is powered by Bing" (CNN). The reality check is that Microsoft has lost almost $11 billion in its online services division since the launch of Bing and has not seen a profitable quarter in its five-year existence.

Microsoft is not setting high goals for this campaign. Instead, the company is focusing on creating brand awareness, generating word of mouth marketing and making consumers think about "Binging it"when surfing the Internet.

Do you Google it or Bing it? Tell us on Facebook and take the bingiton challenge!