Balmer says MSN will “catch” Google in relevancy within six months |
Loading ...Microsoft’s Steve Balmer goes on the offensive in comparing Google vs. MSN search: 
In the next six months, we’ll catch Google in terms of relevancy,” he said. Search has more relevance than just the desktop, he said, reiterating Microsoft’s well-known stance . “It’s important for people who search a corporate network,” he added.
It is curious, but this battle cry seems as flacid as Gates saying he would get rid of spam within two years. Neither event is likely but we wish them well in this endeavor, because more relevant search benefits all seekers of knowledge via the web.
According to Hitwise who anonymously tracks 25 million surfers, Google enjoys 38.3% of online search engine traffic in front of Yahoo (18.4%) and MSN (15.6%). Google Images search (4.5%) bests Ask Jeeves (2.4%). Dogpile is #8 (0.8%) and AOL finished the top 10 with 0.6%.
Y’know, on about 1500 emails a day, I probably only get about 2-3 spam messages.
Spam no longer exists for me, and it’s within that two-year timeframe.
I get about 2 false-positives a week though, so there is a slight amount of drudgery in that I still have to scan my spam so it’s not all heaven.
That said, colour me cynical on the Ballmer announcement as well
Comment by Jeremy Wright — June 28, 2005 @ 2:16 pm PST
You must be a lucky guy jeremy. Remember lots of users are still on a free hotmailaccount.
I suggest to make them switch to gmail
Comment by herk — June 28, 2005 @ 10:48 pm PST
[…] 51 am
Gates is in Bangkok with no shortage of gauntlet throwing. Like Balmer last week believing they had the silver bullet for beating Google’s search relevancy Gate […]
Pingback by Make You Go Hmm: » First Balmer, now Gates thinks they can whip Google’s relevancy — July 1, 2005 @ 10:53 am PST