Microsoft launches Bing for Android and ActiveSync for Hotmail

By on Aug 30, 2010 at 5:52 PM
General August 30, 2010

We have a couple quick Microsoft tidbits here. Today, Microsoft announced that the official Bing mobile application for Android is available to all Verizon customers. If you have a Verizon Android device, and don’t like the ease-of-use and integration that is provided with Google, you can run on over to the Android Market and download Bing. You’ll also be thrilled to know that Bing for Android will be coming pre-installed on future Verizon Android devices. Joy.

Also, as a follow-up to a previous post… ActiveSync for Hotmail is now live. If you have a device that supports the ActiveSync protocol, and would like push email, calendars, and contacts, hit the read link to see how to configure the new hotness on your device.

Read [Bing] Read [Hotmail]

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49 Comments

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  • grrr

    I hope Verizon doesn’t start preloading this on their androids. Bloat is bad.

    • grrr

      Commented before I read. Root should rid future droids of unwanted bloat nicely.

    • Albert

      I can’t imagine Verizon will do this for very long. Whatever cash Microsoft is bribing Verizon to ram their unwanted garbage search service on customers can’t possibly worth the hostility and anger crap like this is generating from Verizon customers.

      • Steve

        Since I assume you haven’t been following Verizon for very long, let me be the first to say: Welcome, Albert!

      • Mike

        The Bing & Verizon Wireless deal was signed for 5 years, and estimated to be worth $500 million USD.

      • symbolset

        Trojan horse. I can’t believe Verizon is this dumb.

  • McNulty

    Ease-of-use and integration is over-rated.

    Bing, here I come!

    • Chut Pata

      If you are comfortable with Microsoft products, then maybe you should go for Windows phone and leave Android alone, untouched by microsoft.

  • asdfasf

    Its kinda funny, Google needs this because they own about 99% of the mobile search market. If they dont want ant-trust or monopoly or whatever else riding them, this is welcome.
    On that note, tried it, and was actually impressed, not bad at all. However, ill stick with Google, cant be beat.

    • Mike

      Google only has about 64 percent of the search market (mobile included).. Yahoo is in second place. Followed by Bing. (as of July 2010).. and considering Yahoo is powered by Bing… it’s really just Bing in 2nd place. Google is losing.

  • Dan

    Why launch an APP for a specific carrier if the app itself doesn’t need a specific carrier to use? I’m boycotting this if it eventually comes out to the rest of the world.

    • Modern Man

      I am predicting that your boycott will explode into a Nationwide movement. I salute you.

    • Chut Pata

      Before buying my next Android, I will ensure it is not pre-loaded with MS BS. I won’t buy it unless it is disinfected :)

      • Luke

        Before buying my next ______, I will ensure it is not pre-loaded with ______ BS. I won’t buy it unless it is disinfected.

  • JM

    What protocol is used by Windows Live to sync Hotmail on Windows Mobile already? It is just about as fast to push email to my phone as my Exchange account is on the same device.

    • Nater

      I think it uses a live HTTP connection. It’s not DeltaSync, IIRC, and it’s not ActiveSync. ActiveSync should be better, but if you use Windows Mobile you’re better off staying with Windows Live for Windows Mobile. Android and Windows Mobile ActiveSync clients (the stock ones, at least) don’t support HTML E-Mail with Hotmail ActiveSync because the protocol used is 2.5 (Exchange 2003 SP2).

      Not being able to view HTML emails is a deal breaker for me, and I’m sure, many others.

      Welcome to 2003?

      • Mike

        DeltaSync is used on mobile devices.. However, with Wave 4 being launched – you can Used ActiveSync.. which does support HTML email.

  • motofooker

    Can one switch back to google on the bing-preinstalled future phones?

    • Mike

      yes

  • JM

    …and I must say that Bing is actually a pretty good service. I used the navigation today as well as Saturday and the directions were quite good. I wish it indicated which side of the street my destination was on (like Telenav) but aside from that I’m happy.

    • Chut Pata

      Good. Now switch to Windows Phone :)

  • http://www.absolutefiction.com [rono]

    So it comes with navigation on Adroid, hm?
    Now, Google, that’s one more reason for you to release Google Maps with Navigation for the other devices. I’ve been waiting for such an occasion for my TP2 for a while. Now get to it.

    • Rob Raines

      I just installed it.
      No navigation, just plain old directions.

      As I predicted, the app also includes a search widget.

      I wish the main search widget in Android had the ability to change search engines.

      • Fanboys Must DIE

        The google maps app on non-Android devices is the same. Directions, but no navigation. (though I’m not sure about iPhone).

    • Xavier Renegade Angel

      I used to use google maps all the time until I realized bing has free navigation. what sucks is i discovered this AFTER a 3,000 mile roadtrip. google maps is awesome in cities and on foot… but navigation is a must for the highway.

      • The Prophet Mohammad

        You are a retard. There is no Bing navigation.

      • Mohammad

        Yes there is. turn by turn gps voice guided navigation. Came out 6 months ago.

      • bob

        nav is for retards.. get a map

      • Fanboys Must DIE

        “For the person above, Bing has had Navigation for like half a year. It debuted in the Windows Mobile Bing Client. It has Voice-Guided directions, and is as accurate as Bing. I have used it going through Big cities with multiple interstates. It works very well. As well as Google Navigation on Android.”

        Prophet Mohammad don’t know shit. STFU and sit down.

  • Kozjegyzo

    It’s blasphemy I tell ya blasphemy…

  • Alan Mc

    Yay for microsoft, Give me Windows Live Messenger for android and I shall be happy, Also give me access to
    ActiveSync it just doesnt want to work for me :(

  • hey

    YAWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWNNNN!!!!

  • The Prophet Mohammad

    Open source allows manufactures to do as they please too… you all keep forgetting that end of the consumer/producer relationship

  • AndyS

    ActiveSync is not working on my Evo in the stock email app. Have tried all day exactly as described on the Live web page. Kind of frustrated, even though they said Android isn’t officially supported.

  • bob

    and WHO CARES? not me anyway…
    good luck Microsoft and sweet dreams

    • bob

      wait a minute.. will they pay me to use it ? :)

  • patrick

    So. When you do a searefrom bing it seems as though there is some sort if skin over the browser. I am so used to google. Can’t see myself using this much. More power to you if you do.

  • Paul S

    Thanks! I just updated my Iphone and now I am a much happier person :)

  • ViniD

    anybody excited about this should be getting a windows 7 phone and should leave andorid, i hate all of microsofts services thats y i use a macbook and a galaxy s phone, and have a ps3.

    • AnonGuy

      @ ViniD: There is an extremely large amount of people who use Hotmail, and the fact that ActiveSync is supported by more Mobile OSes makes this big news. Furthermore, Hotmail has existed since before Google existed, so there are lots of people who have had Hotmail since 1998 (like me) and still use that email address.

      I use Gmail on my Android phone, but being able to get my Calendar/Contacts/Mail Synced from Hotmail is a huge advantage. The only downside of Hotmail ActiveSync atm is the protocol version. No HTML email, but it’s better than nothing.

      Windows Live also has better Web Services for Contacts and Calendars than Google, IMO.

      With Wave 4, their Webmail client is finally on par.

      Like I said, I use both. I have a Galaxy S phone, so I don’t see what that has to do with anything (the Windows 7 phones will be impressive, I’m just not waiting half a year to get a phone when I need one now).

      Microsoft should released Office Mobile for Android, IMO. That would be a killer, and I’d pay $30 for it on release day.

      Also, ActiveSync is better for your battery than IMAP, and frequently checking your email with PoP (not to mention, the mail comes in fast as hell… putting anything other than GMail (native app) on Android to shame

      For the person above, Bing has had Navigation for like half a year. It debuted in the Windows Mobile Bing Client. It has Voice-Guided directions, and is as accurate as Bing. I have used it going through Big cities with multiple interstates. It works very well. As well as Google Navigation on Android. Can’t say if it’s better or not, since I haven’t used the Google version much yet… (Galaxy S GPS bug :< ).

      Bing's Search is also good.

      Only reason to really bash it is cause it's from Microsoft.

      That being said, I dunno how much I agree with baking it into Android – personally.

  • George

    android just got even better !!!!!!!!

  • Cerf N. Turf

    Bing…worst search engine of all time. It’s more of a random site link generator.

  • Fanboys Must DIE

    Some of you are downright idiotic. How many dollars can I bet now that most of you are viewing this site with Firefox or Chrome on a Windows PC? Are you all really THIS stupid? You don’t deserve technology.

    • Chut Pata

      I use Chrome browser because I have a choice. If I get a choice between a Chrome Operating System and an MS-Window for my desktop, I would have chosen COS. This is not the case with Bing running on Android. Bing should not be pre-loaded on Android.

      • Anonymous

        Preload whatever… so long as the USER has ULTIMATE control (over install/uninstall)

    • Luke

      do you realize how little sense that makes? It’s like saying “I bet most you you are using a desktop or a laptop with broadband internet service!”

      Chrome or firefox on windows = 60%+ of total internet users, so yes that is the majority. Plus this is a tech website, so it will be even higher.

  • Anonymous

    ActiveSync for hotmail: the end of the gmail stranglehold for non-corp users.

    ActiveSync powers android calendar and backs up contacts!

    death to google raping privacy profiteering

  • Fanboys Must DIE

    Oh, I forgot to start my comment with,
    @ Prophet Mohammad.

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