Microsoft launches Bing in UK today

Microsoft’s search engine Bing has officially launched in the UK today following a five-month trial period.

Bing, which currently has a 3% share of the UK search market compared to Google’s 80%, will now be fully localised for the UK.

It will be the first search engine to feature Twitter updates, although Google is soon to follow suit. Supported by sponsored links, it will also attempt to return information such as telephone numbers and maps with search results.

Like Google with its doodles, Bing will feature a different image on its homepage each day.

Ashley Highfield, Microsoft’s managing director and vice president, consumer & online, said: “This is a serious, long-term commitment from Microsoft to put a differentiated search product in to the market place.

“We have not just used the US version of Bing. We’ve had a UK team focusing on what will work particularly well over here.”