Facebook fan page for Microsoft Bing UK

Microsoft has launched the official Facebook fan page for its Bing search engine.

Following a first post on Friday, the site has picked up 22 fans at the time of writing, although the first attempts at publicising it have only just started in earnest.

"The official Bing UK fan page has launched," tweeted the official Bing UK Twitter account.

A US fan site for Bing has more than half a million members, so the UK Bing Facebook fan page has some way to go.

A Successful Windows Phone 7 Would Help Bing

Windows Phone 7, seems to be a dramatic upgrade of Microsoft's mobile operating system. In addition to a stylish UI Windows Phone 7 is tightly integrated with Bing search engine.

Tap the Search button on a Windows 7 device, for instance, and a Bing window appears. Microsoft says the Windows Phone interface is locked, that its hardware partners won't be allowed to replace the UI. Might those rules extend to the default search engine too? It's a given that Bing, not Google, will be the default search engine for every Windows 7 phone that ships. Users will likely have the option of digging into the settings to select another search tool (e.g., Google or Yahoo), but most won't bother.

If Windows Phone 7 is a big success, Bing's market share would rise. As Mobile devices are the latest battleground in the search wars, and a revitalized Windows Phone 7 would make for a more bruising fight. Google, of course, is gaining mobile market share too. Its Android OS is slated to debut on dozens of mobile devices this year, all of which will have tight hooks into Google Search.

In this way strained relationships between Google and Apple might be perfect situation for Bing. Some rumors already claims that Bing may soon become iPhones's default search engine.

Weekly Wrap-up: Although, Microsoft's Courier tablet didn't show up at CES, some others did.

Despite numerous rumors about presentation of new multimedia tablet from Microsoft and HP, which concept Microsoft unveiled last September, the device didn't appeared at this year's International Consumer Electronic Show. Instead, Microsoft showed off three tablet computers running the touch-enabled Windows 7. The tablets were built by Asus spinoff Pegatron, media player maker Archos and HP itself. According to CEO of Microsoft Steve Balmer those three devices are almost as portable as a phone, but running Windows 7.

HP in turn said its slate computer will ship this year, part of a growing group of its new touch-enabled computers. HP also agreed to install Bing as the default search engine, and MSN the default home page, on HP computers in 42 countries.This alliance could help Bing to win more new users.

While Bing has already added 11 million new users since its launch last June, Microsoft's another hit on its way to set records. Mr. Balmer talked up Windows 7 during his speech at CES and contended that it's been a boon to the PC market. Retailers sold 63% more PCs this Black Friday compared to 2008. Windows PC sales in North America were 50% higher year-over-year, according to NPD Group. Ballmer credited at least part of the improved sales totals to the 800,000 new apps and 240,000 new peripherals created for Windows 7.

CEO of Microsoft don't forget to pay attention to one of Microsoft's touchiest subjects, its long-laming Windows Mobile OS. He promised that Microsoft would preview Windows Mobile 7 at the upcoming Mobile World Congress in February. Previously reported an actual launch next month, based on seems unlikely.