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Microsoft Cellphones

Microsoft In Mobile Search Deal With Verizon 104

Posted by kdawson from the sea-spider dept.
An anonymous reader writes "Verizon Wireless will forge a deal with Microsoft to include the software giant's Live Search on its mobile phones, giving Microsoft a victory over rival Google and ending a months-long dance toward the partnership. Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer will announce the deal in his keynote address at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas." InfoWorld notes that Microsoft is rumored to be changing the name of its Live Search service to Kumo, which is Japanese for "cloud."
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Microsoft In Mobile Search Deal With Verizon More

Microsoft In Mobile Search Deal With Verizon

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  • Let me be the first to say... (Score:3, Funny)

    by Aqua_boy17 ( 962670 ) on Friday January 09, 2009 @03:12PM (#26390259)
    ...I'm glad my Verizon contract is up.

    • Re:Let me be the first to say... (Score:5, Interesting)

      by Shakrai ( 717556 ) on Friday January 09, 2009 @03:19PM (#26390383) Journal

      ...I'm glad my Verizon contract is up.

      I don't really care as I'm in the (apparently shrinking) pool of people who only use my cell phone to make and receive phone calls.

      Does anybody know what happened to Verizon's much touted plan to provide open access? Funny how we haven't heard anything about that lately isn't it? If I was a cynical person I might assume that they only made that announcement to forestall efforts to impose an open network via the regulatory structure.....

      • > Does anybody know what happened to Verizon's much touted plan to provide open access?

        I thought they had a much touted plan to never provide open access? Unless you count the $50/mo data plan.

        I'm a customer, but I'm a luddite that does little more than place phone calls and a few text messages now and then.

      • Re: (Score:2)

        by omb ( 759389 )
        No, your are not I have a n 3100 that I use to make calls, 4+ days idle +6h talk and likes my BMW and a n95 (1d, 2h) that I sometimes use at my desk or if I need a GPRS modem

        • No, your are not I have a n 3100 that I use to make calls, 4+ days idle +6h talk and likes my BMW and a n95 (1d, 2h) that I sometimes use at my desk or if I need a GPRS modem

          Is that HEX? I couldn't decode it, much less parse it.

          • Re: (Score:2)

            by dgatwood ( 11270 )

            I believe it was "No, you are not. I have a Nokia N3100 that I use to make calls. I get 4+ days of idle, 6+ hours talk time, and it works well with my BMW (a kind of car) . I also have an N95 (1 day/2 hours) that I sometimes use at my desk or when I need a GPRS modem."

            GPRS is a cell phone protocol, and by GPRS modem, the poster was referring to tethering. Clear as mud?

    • Re:Let me be the first to say... (Score:5, Insightful)

      by Blob Pet ( 86206 ) on Friday January 09, 2009 @03:29PM (#26390509) Homepage

      Last month, I had a broken Verizon phone and a year left on my contract. I really wanted an Android-based phone as a replacement, but I figured that would happen later rather than sooner with Verizon given how they like to take their time qualifying new phones (i.e. removing features), so I paid the early termination fee to jump-ship to T-Mobile. With this agreement, it seems even less likely we'll see an Android phone on their network. Even if we did, it'd be amusing to see how they'd try to make MS Live Search the default search engine for it.

  • so... (Score:2, Funny)

    by prozaker ( 1261190 )
    it's like a search engine?
    • Microsoft just announced a change of plans: The company is going to rename its Live Search service to 'Cloud' which is Japanese for 'guy with yellow spikey hair and a big, big sword'. Microsoft representatives expressed their hope that this move would refresh the brand with a more youthful and positive image.

      Rejected alternative name suggestions include 'Kumo' which is the German abbreviation for 'Kuestenmotorschiff' (coaster), and 'Develo-Debu' which is Japanese and short for 'scary sweaty fat man yelling

  • This makes for a fine game of Chess. (Score:5, Interesting)

    by gcnaddict ( 841664 ) on Friday January 09, 2009 @03:13PM (#26390277)
    It's interesting how Microsoft nailed Dell for search. They've now got Verizon as well, which leads me to think that either:
    1. Microsoft offered more money, or
    2. companies are getting weary of partnering with Google and dealing with Google's bottomless desire for control.

    It'd be interesting to see how all of this plays out.

    • companies are getting weary of partnering with Google and dealing with Google's bottomless desire for control.

      Whereas Microsoft is renowned for their open and transparent processes, their huge efforts towards interoperability and against lock-in, and their thorough willingness to cede control over to others when asked nicely ... ??

      Both Google and Microsoft (and every other company, really) have a bottomless desire for control. And really Verizon doesn't care about how much control Google or Microsoft may have over search; except to the extent that this affects their bottom line. So, yes, Microsoft must have offered

    • Re: (Score:3, Interesting)

      by nine-times ( 778537 )

      If people are siding with Microsoft because they're afraid of Google taking anti-competitive actions, then either:

      1. something has happened that I haven't heard about.
      2. the people making the decisions don't know what they're doing.

      I'd bet that Microsoft is paying more.

    • Bottomless desire for control???? (Score:4, Insightful)

      by brunes69 ( 86786 ) <`gro.daetsriek' `ta' `todhsals'> on Friday January 09, 2009 @04:21PM (#26391231)

      Lets see - if I get the GPhone from T-Mobile I can replace any application I want on it, right down to the kernel. I can totally customize it from the ground up, and use anything I want on it to access any information I want.

      Name one Verizon phone that lets me do this? Hell I doubt I will even be able to uninstall this Live Search POS.

      • Re:Bottomless desire for control???? (Score:4, Interesting)

        by Korin43 ( 881732 ) on Friday January 09, 2009 @04:47PM (#26391523) Homepage
        Hah you clearly have never used a Verizon phone.
        Not only can you not customize anything (except using the 3 themes it comes with), but you can't install ANY application without paying $5-15 (keep in mind these are all clones of games from the 80's with their characters replaced with people from movies), and you can't use the GPS without paying $9/mo for their crappy GPS service which doesn't integrate with other programs. Oh and did I mention that if you want to add your own programs you have to pay a couple thousand dollars?
        • Sounds like a hackers dream, and a script kiddies nightmare

        • Re: (Score:1)

          by talz13 ( 884474 )
          Or, you could buy a windows mobile phone and install a custom rom on it [ppcgeeks.com]
          I love my windows mobile phones, not necessarily because of windows mobile, but rather because it tends to be the more "open" of the mobile OSes. I know, I know, it's not android, but you can do all sorts of things with it anyway. You can set up a custom rom to contain all the apps you want, you can make script files to install your apps from a flash card after a flash or hard reset, you can reg tweak (on a phone... yikes!)...

          Discl

        • but you can't install ANY application without paying $5-15 ... Oh and did I mention that if you want to add your own programs you have to pay a couple thousand dollars?(

          Uh-oh. I guess I'd better uninstall that application I wrote and installed on my Verizon Samsung Saga phone last weekend. And all those 3rd party apps I DL'd and installed too. Thanks for warning me!

        • Re: (Score:2)

          by hey! ( 33014 )

          I have a Versizon HTC 5800 Windows Mobile Smartphone. It's completely locked down, which was a surprise since I'd used Palm based smartphones before and they were pretty much what you'd expect: a PDA phone.

          You have to enter a few registry entries, and voila, the PDA part of the phone is open and you can install your own apps. Google is your friend.

          Lack of access to the GPS seems to be a pretty common theme in most phone platforms. I believe the way the phones are architected deliberately assumes that

    • Or they can do more with Microsoft options. Googles Don't Be Evil may confect with Versions plan for charging for breathing.

  • "Kumo" as a Search name? (Score:5, Funny)

    by Ethanol-fueled ( 1125189 ) * on Friday January 09, 2009 @03:14PM (#26390289) Homepage Journal
    They should name it "bukakke" because the search results would just keep pourin' in!

    And also because using MS is humiliating.

    • Re: (Score:2)

      by Shakrai ( 717556 )

      You owe me a new monitor ;)

    • They should name it "bukakke" because the search results would just keep pourin' in!

      Mod parent funny. It's more accurate then cloud. Would you want your results to evaporate? I think not.

    • Will this be the search engine on Zune?

      "Heey girl! Lemme google that song for you on Kumo, and I'll be squirting it to ya in a second! Girl? Hey girl?"

  • Cloud? (Score:4, Insightful)

    by morgan_greywolf ( 835522 ) on Friday January 09, 2009 @03:14PM (#26390291) Homepage Journal

    Cloud?! Will the marketroids PLEASE stop referring to the Internet and everything else in it as a 'cloud'!

    Thank you. That is all.

  • Isn't that, like, almost the name of the Steven King movie? The one wih the rabid dog?

  • Can we switch it if we desire?

  • Will they be paying users to use search? (Score:4, Interesting)

    by Vandil X ( 636030 ) on Friday January 09, 2009 @03:17PM (#26390349)
    Seeing as how Verizon likes to charge a lot for its data plans, will Microsoft re-issue its previous plan of paying people for using Live Search? Would be a way to offset the mobile data cost.

  • While I think this is a great move on its part, Microsoft faces an uphill battle as the word "google" is now a verb. By the way, will I be in position to change Verizon's new default search engine (Live Search) back to Google? Hackers anyone?

    • Re:Nice try Microsoft (Score:4, Funny)

      by vux984 ( 928602 ) on Friday January 09, 2009 @03:30PM (#26390515)

      Microsoft faces an uphill battle as the word "google" is now a verb.

      "Microsoft" can be used as a verb too. Trouble is...if I were to say I'm going to "Microsoft something" its not exactly a positive image.

    • By the way, will I be in position to change Verizon's new default search engine (Live Search) back to Google?

      You obviously have no idea how Live Search mobile works. If you want to use Google's search, open your browser and go to Google. If you want to use Live Search Mobile, open the Live Search app and use that. It even has speech recognition. It's pretty bad-ass to be honest.

  • I like cell phones (Score:2, Funny)

    by Anonymous Coward

    Everyone calls me and they are like, "wassup, dawg?" And I'm like yo, wassup wicchew, homie? And everybody's like, "chillin, homie, chillin." And I'm like, word. That's whassup. Yo then theres texting my girlfriends and like, internet and shit, yo. Yo, cell phones is da fly shiznit, yo. Word.

  • It doesn't surprise me that Verizon would forge something. It doesn't surprise me that Microsoft would participate in forgery.

  • In Japanese (Score:4, Interesting)

    by BetterSense ( 1398915 ) on Friday January 09, 2009 @03:34PM (#26390583)
    "kumo" can also mean "spider"

  • Microsoft is rumored to be changing the name of its Live Search service to Kumo , which is Japanese for "cloud."

    I'm guessing it's so they can trademark "Kumo" in the non-Japanese speaking world. In Japan, I'm sure it'll be called/trademarked "Cloud" ... sigh.

    And why would anyone call a search engine/service "Cloud"?
    [Dear Marketing People, please, please kill yourselves now.]

  • Who cares? (Score:4, Insightful)

    by thammoud ( 193905 ) on Friday January 09, 2009 @03:40PM (#26390659)

    Unless the phone is retarded, users will still bookmark Google and conduct the search there just like they do in Windows.

    • Re:Who cares? (Score:5, Funny)

      by UnknowingFool ( 672806 ) on Friday January 09, 2009 @04:08PM (#26391093)
      You are trying to switch your search engine to Google? [Cancel] or [Allow] Allow
      Are you sure? [Cancel] or [Allow] Allow
      Please hold while we connect you a Verizon Service Representative [Cancel] or [Allow] Allow

      "Hello this is Tom? How can I help you?"
      Can you hear the representative now? [Yes] or [No] Yes
      "Yes, I'd like to change the search engine on me phone."
      Can you hear him now? [Yes] or [No]
      "For the love of God, yes!"
    • Yeah, but most phones are pretty retarded.

    • Unless the phone is retarded

      Being Verizon, this is the rule, rather than the exception:

      *Using Bluetooth for anything other than a headset is impossible, unless you start hacking the phone.

      *Proprietary mini-usb ports that artificially only allow Verizon-produced chargers to charge the device. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/EMU_connector/ [wikipedia.org].

      *Trying to use multimedia outside of it's VCast system (you can't use a video clip/ringtone/wallpaper/application on your phone unless you bought it through VCast).


      I wouldn't be entirely

  • And now begins... (Score:2, Insightful)

    by stimuli_ii ( 1266556 )
    The Microsoft hate circle jerk...

    • And deeply insightful remarks about anti-MS prejudice at Slashdot.

      Maybe instead of coming to a place where the exact same thing happens every time a story like this crops up, you could go someplace else where you wouldn't be frustrated.

      Or you could eat a nice big dick.

      • Or.... I could point out that there is no reason why this story should be on the front page except for the circle jerk factor. Microsoft Live on a Verizon phone...Really? That's the biggest news in tech today? ...now get back in your mothers basement you little troll.

        • ...now get back in your mothers basement you little troll.

          I live in your mom's basement, dude - it makes it more convenient for when I fuck her in the ass.

  • Pyrrhic Victory (Score:3, Insightful)

    by SuperKendall ( 25149 ) on Friday January 09, 2009 @03:50PM (#26390837)

    giving Microsoft a victory over rival Google

    Is that really a victory for Microsoft, or a loss for Verizon?

    • If your phone has a web browser, and you are truly free to go to any website, then nothing stops anyone from still using Google, even if it isn't the default.

      Anyhow, this is just one more reason, among many, of why I'm glad I'm switching to T-Mo (though, to be fair, I'm not gonna get a smart phone or a data plan - I can't justify spending $60/mo just to surf the web on my phone, or $100/mo for an unlimited-everything plan, if Verizon has one, like Sprint's. That is just *too much money* to spend on a phone,

      • I can't justify spending $60/mo just to surf the web on my phone, or $100/mo for an unlimited-everything plan

        I disagree, really for any smart phone - there is a ton of value in being constantly connected. And I mean that in the sense that I have the option to connect when I wish, not to be a demand driven slave to external communication like so many Blackberry users turn into over email (I have a lot of respect for the platform but many users are way too tied into work with it).

        Sure the web is useful, but

  • Awesome! (Score:5, Funny)

    by Tibor the Hun ( 143056 ) on Friday January 09, 2009 @03:57PM (#26390945)

    Except of course that Verizon charges and arm and a leg for unlimited data, so Microsoft just spent millions on making sure about 114 people will get their search engine as the default.

  • "giving Microsoft a victory over rival Google"

    This is a great moment. For a second their I thought their monopoly was in trouble.

  • I could use my moderate points to mod down everyone who promotes use of the word "cloud"

  • it's a tough battle for them when people use will use this know how good the competition is. It's not like their Windows monopoly where most users are not even aware of any of the other computer systems except maybe some know _of_ the Mac. Most people use Google for search on other devices so changing the name and paying Verison twice what the deal Google had is only going to continue the financial losses at Microsoft in every division outside of MS Windows and MS Office. IMO.

    LoB

  • Yeah, thanks, I'll be switching when my phone contract comes up. Sorry Ballmer, throw your chair at someone else. You douche.

  • I just thought the "live" brand was stupid, I like it a little better now facing kumo as the new name.

  • Flop (Score:2)

    by omb ( 759389 )
    This is the classic example of what is wrong with the splintered culture in the US. The SMART dinousour business men make a completely dumb decision because the go to the same country club, and still think all the sheeple will follow.
  • Google Mobile [google.com] has had a whole heap of apps available to download to your phone for free, such as their Google Search [google.com] plugin for your Windows Mobile home screen.

    • Google Mobile [google.com] has had a whole heap of apps available to download to your phone for free, such as their Google Search [google.com] plugin for your Windows Mobile home screen.

      Hmmm. After clicking my links and realising it wasn't available to download, have a read of this [google.com].

  • I've been waiting for a good reason to get out of my Verizon account for a while now and they have just given it to me.

  • I don't want Microsoft in my life. They are criminally convicted monopolists. The world needs to move on to companies that can abide by the laws. We don't need the influences of Microsoft any more. We are no longer babies needing their hand holding. The industry is maturing. We need less Microsoft and more competition, especially in the OS and Office type application markets.

    • I don't want Microsoft in my life. They are criminally convicted monopolists. The world needs to move on to companies that can abide by the laws. We don't need the influences of Microsoft any more. We are no longer babies needing their hand holding. The industry is maturing. We need less Microsoft and more competition, especially in the OS and Office type application markets.

      That's nice. It has nothing to do with the cellphone market though.

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