MNN - Mother Nature Network

Microsoft's Bing search engine tied up June 14 with the business review firm Yelp to power local search in a move countering similar offerings from Google and Apple.

 

The two companies said Yelp content including review snippets, photos, business attributes and more, will be featured as part of Bing search.

 

The announcement comes after Google said it was adding local restaurant reviews from Zagat in a revamped local search feature and Apple unveiled its own mapping service that can perform similar functions.

 

The services are used by mobile and computer users seeking local restaurants, hotels or other services.

 

"Yelp has become the leading destination for local information and we're thrilled that established brands like Bing recognize the value that Yelp communities bring to the local search experience," said Jeremy Stoppelman, chief executive and co-founder of Yelp.

 

"We are excited to see how Bing fans respond to this new local search experience powered by Yelp."

 

"Whether it's discovering the right restaurant, planning the evening's entertainment or finding local services, Yelp has emerged as a proven and trusted resource," said Mike Nichols, general manager of Bing.

 

"Enabling people to do more with search involves building a spectrum of features and data that people trust, and teaming up with Yelp is another important step in helping Bing deliver great value to customers."

 

Copyright 2012  AFP Global Edition