Microsoft takes on Goliath

INTERNET SEARCH UPSTART Microsoft has started airing television ads for its Bing browser, and its slingshot is aimed at Google.

In an interview with the Guardian, managing director and vice-president of consumer and online at Microsoft, Ashley Highfield, said about the ads, which are backed with $2 million of the Vole's pocket change, "This is a big moment - we are taking out our slingshots and taking on Goliath." Unless the company is being attacked by a giant, we take this to mean Google.

The ads, which will be broadcast on British television this week, have the title, "Bing and decide", something that doesn't make a lot of sense to us, but they propose to show how Bing can help tackle information overload. This appears to manifest in having fewer search results. Again, something that doesn't make a lot of sense to us.

However, Highfield was not content with just Bliblical references, he also threw in some terms from the Vietnam war as well, adding, "It is a battle not just of mind but of heart as well. We are wanting to make an emotional connection - we are ploughing a different furrow here." Causing us to wonder if he might turn next to Sun Tsu, Marx and Mao as well.

Let a thousand searches bloom, eh Ashley?