Yahoo is to provide a new service which can override Microsoft’s
MSN search service and redirect users to Yahoo!’s search page. The
service forms part of a comprehensive package called “Yahoo!
Experience”. This package can be downloaded by consumers along with
the recently launched upgrade to Yahoo!’s Instant Messenger (IM)
software.
The service acts when a user types a generic word or phrase such
as “car” or “car insurance” into the browser command line, instead
of entering a valid site address. If Yahoo! Experience has been
downloaded by the user, the user will be taken to a Yahoo! search
page. Without Yahoo! Experience, the user would be directed to
MSN’s search page.
Yahoo! is able to divert users from MSN’s web properties by
changing the preferences in Microsoft’s Internet Explorer (IE).
These changes challenge MSN’s control over the command bar.
Microsoft offers a service in conjunction with RealNames which
allows common words to link directly to web pages. IE is used by
more than 85% of all web surfers. Microsoft therefore has the
leverage to promote its own services through IE. It was only last
month that Microsoft amended IE to operate such that users who
mistyped internet addresses would be redirected to the MSN search
service rather than the standard “page not found” error
message.
