Ballmer Gives The Lowdown On Bing

May 30th, 2009 • Related • Filed Under

When we think of the term “bing”, a vision of Stephen Tobolowsky as Ned Ryerson in the Bill Murray time paradox movie Groundhog Day comes to mind.

However, for Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer, the term immediately calls to mind the art of searching.

“We wanted something that unambiguously said search,” he explained in a D: All Things Digital speech.

We’re not quite sure how Bing means that, but that must be why he makes the big bucks.

While the new engine was being internally tested, its codename was Kumo.

While rebranding Live Search is super-important, even Ballmer admits that it’s not a panacea or anything.

“This is a very important step,” he insisted. “It doesn’t substitute for innovation.”

Unfortunately, a visit to Bing will not open to the doorway to newly branded searching quite yet –  the website solely houses some promotional video and text at the moment.

There Are 2 Responses So Far. »

  1. Comment by carly on 30 May 2009:

    Ned: Ned… Ryerson. “Needlenose Ned”? “Ned the Head”? C’mon, buddy. Case Western High. I did the whistling belly-button trick at the high school talent show? Bing. Ned Ryerson, got the shingles real bad senior year, almost didn’t graduate? Bing, again.

    Ned Ryerson, I dated your sister Mary Pat a couple of times until you told me not to anymore? Well?

    Phil: Ned Ryerson?

    Ned: BING!

    Phil: Bing.

  2. Comment by Tony S. on 30 May 2009:

    WHAT!! nobody thought of bada bing?? fuggedaboutit./

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