Bing to Add Facebook “Like” Data to Search?

Can data from Facebook’s increasingly ubiquitous “Like” buttons give Microsoft an advantage in the search wars? The software giant may be banking on it, as AllThingsD reports the two companies are “deep in talks” about expanding their search partnership.

Such a move wouldn’t be a huge surprise. Ever since Facebook introduced its Like buttons there’s been speculation about a grander plan to organize the web around Likes instead of links. With the button now in use by hundreds of thousands (if not millions) of publishers, that possibility is quickly becoming more of a reality.

The even more intriguing part, however, would be Facebook offering up this information to Bing, and in turn giving Microsoft a treasure trove of social data not available to Google. Coincidentally (or perhaps not), Google CEO Eric Schmidt said yesterday that “The best thing that would happen is for Facebook to open up its data,” as the company looks to integrate social features into more of its products.

Facebook may be willing to work with Google, however. The company signed deals with both Microsoft and Google to make information like public status updates available as the two tech giants launched their own real-time search products last year. The possibility of additional cooperation may be growing less likely though as Google’s revamped social strategy takes shape.
We’ll obviously be tracking this story and will update with any additional information.

[via mashable]

Posted in: Bing,Facebook