Microsoft has rolled out Windows 10 late in July this year. With the new operating system comes the new Microsoft browser, a revamped Internet Explorer the company renamed Microsoft Edge. It seems, however, that while Microsoft clients have taken to Windows 10, only a few have taken to Edge as well.
And so, in a bid to get netizens to try out Microsoft Edge, the software company seems to have employed Bing to coax visitors who are looking for web browsers to get the company's own browser. PC World has reported that users who did searches on Bing about web browsers were suggested to try out Microsoft Edge.
The report has noted that when users search for Mozilla Firefox or Google Chrome, Bing will indicate that "Microsoft recommends Microsoft Edge for Windows 10." There's a Learn More button which, once clicked, will provide information of the new browser's features, like the frequently talked about Cortana. Cortana is Microsoft's voice assistant which is designed to work hand in hand with Edge in Windows 10.
The banner, of course, only appears in searches done using Windows PCs. A Microsoft spokesperson told VentureBeat that "These notifications were created to provide people with quick, easy information that can help them get to know these experiences better. That said, with Windows 10 you can easily choose the default browser and search engine of your choice."
Microsoft is not the only company to promote their own developments. Search giant Google also coaxes users to download Google Chrome by putting in a box that suggests contents from the search engine itself. The company has been under fire for allegedly stifling competition by skewing search results in favor of Google.
The company has most recently faced complaints of stifling competition in India. Google has similarly been accused of illegal self-promotion in Europe.
