ComScore has reported this week that both Yahoo and Microsoft “gained” share in the U.S. search market for May, although both companies appear to be using gimmicks to distort the numbers in their favor.
By the numbers, Google remained the clear leader but share fell from 64.4 percent in April to 63.7 percent in May. Yahoo gained share, from 17.7 percent to 18.3 percent. Microsoft’s Bing jumped to 12.1 percent, from 11.8. AOL fell marginally from 2.4 percent to 2.3.
BusinessInsider reports, however, that both companies are “gaming” the stats, by placing thousands of links on their respective homepages that are search queries pretending to be content.
Additionally, the companies have been creating image slideshows as search engines, as well, in an effort to get additional clicks.
Analyst Ben Schachter of Broadpoint Amtech says without the tricks, real search traffic numbers would have shown Yahoo falling to 16.6 percent, Microsoft holding flat at 10.8 percent and Google gaining to 66.4 percent.
Following the revelations, comScore says it will change the way it accounts for share, so the industry does not consider their work worthless.
Result for: revelation
According to a company spokesman, Verizon is unlikely to get the Apple iPhone in the “immediate future,” despite Apple CEO Steve Jobs’ recent revelation that “there might be” a iPhone on a new carrier in the U.S. soon.
Verizon spokesperson John Johnson says: “We have no plans to carry the iPhone in the immediate future.”
Johnson then went on to talk about Android, and Verizon’s support of the HTC Incredible and other “flagship” Android devices.
Steve Jobs, speaking a week before Apple’s yearly Worldwide Developers Conference, had said “there might be” a chance of the iPhone on another carrier, before adding: “The future is long. I can’t talk about that stuff.”
AT&T recently announced the elimination of unlimited data plans, while adding new data plans for their smartphone line, including the iPhone and iPad tablet, which will be less expensive for customers, but will also limit data use.
Result for: revelation
Speaking to an investor’s conference, Motorola CEO Sanjay Jha has made the revelations that his company plans to release an Andoid tablet soon, as well as a sequel to the very popular Droid smartphone.
The tablet will be between 7 and 10-inces and will act as a “companion product” to HDTVs, adds Jha.
Says the CEO: “We’re very focused on participating in this convergence between mobility and home, and I actually think you will see some products from us in a very short period of time.”
How soon? Jha would not give any details on a time table, but did say it would run Android, as the open-source operating system remains the company’s focus. Refuting recent speculation, the company added it has no plans to create its own mobile OS.
Motorola said to remain competitive, however, it must continue to improve its MotoBLUR user interface, which is seen on phones like the Cliq, which runs Android, with BLUR on top. Jha says BLUR 2.0 will be released later this year, as well.
Finally, the CEO spoke about an upcoming sequel to the Droid: “I think we’re very well positioned [at Verizon]. We will introduce new Droid products in the Verizon franchise. I know the devices we are going to introduce, and that gives me comfort.”
