Microsoft Bing

News Byte

Yahoo, Microsoft Renew Search Ad Deal

Peter Kafka in Media on May 7 at 10:22 am PT

Yahoo and Microsoft have extended a deal that guarantees revenue for each search a Yahoo user makes using Microsoft’s Bing engine. The deal was initially struck in late 2009, was renewed again in 2011 and expired on March 31 of this year. The new deal — CEO Marissa Mayer’s first with Microsoft — kicked in April 1 and goes for another 12 months; Yahoo disclosed the pact in an SEC filing today.

News Byte

Klout Hooks Deeper Into Bing and Instagram Data

Mike Isaac in Social on March 28 at 9:25 am PT

Social media influence scoring startup Klout announced Thursday that it will more fully integrate users’ Instagram and Microsoft Bing accounts. Instagram influence will now be factored into a user’s overall Klout score. Bing accounts are able to be connected, but the data will be considered in Klout scores in the future. In the past, the company connected to a number of other accounts to measure social influence, including Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.

News Byte

Zynga Game Vets Raise $1.4 Million to Start Bee Cave Games

Tricia Duryee in Commerce on February 8 at 10:20 am PT

Bee Cave Games has raised $1.4 million in funding to build casino games. The Austin, Texas, company was founded by Erik Bethke, Nimai Malle and Jeremy Strauser, all of whom worked at Zynga on games, including Mafia Wars, Texas Hold’em Poker and Bingo. The round was funded in part by its own employees and from publicly held Glu Mobile. The company’s first game, Blackjack Casino, is in private beta on Facebook, and there are mobile versions under development.