Microsoft: new partnerships to counter Google's reign

Microsoft signs new agreements to promote their search engine.

As months go by, the number of requests on Yahoo and Live Search seem to dwindle. Microsoft strikes back by signing a series of high-profile partnerships, such as one with leading PC-maker Dell.

Indeed from February on, the manufacturer's PC s for the consumer market will come with  Windows Live Services preinstalled. Live Search will be the default search engine.

In the United States, Live Search will also be the default search engine on phones by mobile operator Verizon; the same will apply to Bouygues phones in France.