Bing: ‘Decision engine’ hype comes to the iPhone

Microsoft’s hype-driven search decision engine interface has now been optimized for the iPhone and iPod touch, as well as a bunch of the usual touch-based suspects, including the Zune. Features include easy tabbed homepage navigation and tabbed search results organization.

iPhone FAQ reports that the mobile version of Microsoft’s Bing (standard Web interface) search engine has been revamped and now supports (m.bing.com) Apple’s zeitgeist defining handhelds. However, this newly launched touch-optimized interface is currently only available to users in the U.S.

Search results are organized into four simple tabs: Web, videos, news and images. Also, a link allows users to set their location so Bing returns relevant local results.

The home page has quick links at the top of the page for directions, map, weather and movies. If you want to see the desktop version of Bing on your iPhone’s browser there’s a link to that at the bottom of the page for that, too.

Captured via iCab 1.7, the best iPhone browser

Additionally, Microsoft has added extended features to the mobile search engine, including a visual search movie finder and a real-time data search. Examples of real-time information available include airline flight delays and NFL scores n’ stats.

Mobile phones that don’t support the touch interface, such as most Blackberries and Windows Mobile, are forwarded to a simpler version of the site. The Redmonsters are working on expanding the number of devices that Bing mobile supports.

For now, however, the iPhone, iPod Touch, T-Mobile G1, Verizon Imagio, Zune HD and Samsung Omnia are the only mobile touch devices that can use the touch optimized search engine.

Related posts:

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2. Does Bing on the iPhone signal the Apple-Google end?
3. Apple aims to Bing Google off iPhone, claims report
4. Will Google’s Android hype match that of the iPhone launch?
5. Is Apple pulling a “Zune 2.0″ with the (3G) iPhone 2.0 ?