Power Search

Microsoft Friends Facebook, Twitter

Bing searches integrate social-networking sites.

In an unusual coup for Microsoft, the company announced today that it has struck deals with both Twitter and Facebook to integrate them into Microsoft's search engine Bing. The Twitter search function on Bing is already live, and its algorithm features the most recent and relevant tweets on a subject, as well as the most re-tweeted tweets. The Facebook integration will come at a later date and will include access only to publicly available information. While many have been speculating how the ad-free Twitter will manage to turn a profit to stay afloat, The New York Times reports that Microsoft paid Twitter for the rights to cull information from their service. Microsoft may not be used to besting Google, but the nonexclusive deal with Twitter likely means that the search-engine giant may not be far behind.