Bing iPhone App Updated to Bing for iPhone v1.2 [iPhone Bing App Now Touts Barcode Reader, Advanced Social Networking Integration]

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If anyone thought Microsoft would simply roll over and play dead in terms of facing up to Google in the battle of the search apps then the release of Microsoft’s updated Bing for iPhone App (v1.2), which sees the Bing iPhone App gain a host of new features such as a barcode reader and advanced social networking integration, should serve to confirm that MS are intent on taking Google on (specifically Google Goggles) in the increasingly lucrative search for mobile devices arena.

The main highlight of the updated Bing for iPhone App is undoubtedly the utilisation of the iPhone’s camera to allow for barcode scanning, or ‘visual scanning’ as they prefer to call it, allowing users to simple scan an item’s barcode to run a search on the identified product to find reviews, information and, of course, where to purchase said item (at a potentially cheaper price point).

Additional highlights include a movies section, offering, as you’d expect, movie videos and trailers (as well as links to merchant sites) and, as noted above, the app also comes with full social networking integration to boot allowing access to the likes of Facebook and Twitter directly via the app itself. A nice inclusion that, initially, may not seem to make sense but as well as allowing for status updates the app’s social network integration also allows users to search for information from said social networks as well as searching Bing – the result being a ‘blended search’. And, of course, you can also factor in business listings and Map View integration.

Bing for iPhone v1.2 Gallery (Click images to view larger)

All in all the updated Bing for iPhone App is a decidedly comprehensive offering from Microsoft that’s clearly been designed to go against Google’s Google Goggles though, of course, Google Goggles though, in reality, the fight won’t really be on until the app makes an appearance on Android devices as well (though, at this juncture, it’s unclear whether the app will actually be released for Android or not).

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