Dell To Preinstall Microsoft Live Search
Posted: December 11th, 2008
This past week, rumours have emerged surrounding a deal between computer-maker Dell and Microsoft, although representatives from both companies declined to offer any comments. In the near future, Dell computers will begin to be shipped with Microsoft Live Search preinstalled onto the computer systems, effectively making Live Search the default search engine for new Dells.
The partnership closely follows Microsoft’s monopolistic modus operandi, as the software company is well-known for producing products that are bundled with others. The paradigm that frequently comes to mind is its bundling of Internet Explorer with Windows, which raised concerns (as well as lawsuits) - particularly in Europe.
An agreement between Dell and Microsoft wouldn’t be the first time Microsoft has proactively pushed Live Search onto a computer manufacturer. In March of 2007, Lenovo signed a deal with Microsoft to preinstall its computer systems with Live Search, along with other Windows Live services.
Significance Of This Partnership
1. Prior to striking this deal, Dell computers were preloaded with Google being the default search engine. This relationship began in 2006, and must end in order to facilitate Dell’s new contract with Microsoft.
2. Dell ships a substantial number of computers each year (and growing thanks to the return of Michael Dell), and the money Microsoft is paying for this exclusivity agreement should pay dividends down the road.
3. This is one of the bigger moves that Microsoft has been making recently to proactively grow its search share, other than its attempted acquisition of Yahoo.
Tags: Dell, Live Search, Microsoft
can’t be any worse than having the things I liked about Google being nonfunctional in the Dell version … mine lasted about 20 minutes out of the box before I had changed it
Microsoft should stop its habit of pre-installing its products on computers. Take the IE for example. When I bought my laptop with Windows XP, IE was automatically included with the package but I never used it. I immediately installed Firefox and Opera, two of my favorite web browsers today.
Give the consumer the right to choose. Don’t force a product on them.
I think they’re trying to gain some search popularity, but with Yahoo and Google in the way, they can loose hopes of reaching any such targets!