5 ms·

Microsoft will charge $40/mo for 20K queries for access to the Bing Search API

39 points by dhruvbird 15y ago

nextparadigms 15y ago
Let's see what happens to DuckDuckGo now, since it's dependent on Bing.
- zackfern 15y ago
  DuckDuckGo uses more than just Bing for it's search backend [1], however I wonder if their other sources are enough to compensate for the potential loss of Bing. [1] http://help.duckduckgo.com/customer/portal/articles/216399-sources http://help.duckduckgo.com/customer/portal/articles/216399-s...
- rbanffy 15y ago
  This is an important lesson about basing your business on someone else's APIs. I am confident, however, the folks at DDG planned for events like this.
Maven911 15y ago
I really hope DDG have thought out a backup plan, I am an avid user of their amazing service
hardtke 15y ago
It's interesting that Microsoft is planning to charge more than Yahoo! Boss for access to the same data. BOSS charges $0.80 per 1000 queries, while Microsoft is priced at $2 per 1000 queries. BOSS is also pay-as-you-go with no monthly minimum. BOSS has less restrictive terms and conditions (re-ordering allowed, for instance). I've been using the Bing API instead of Yahoo! BOSS for my metasearch engine for two reasons: the feed is free, and the response time is faster. The Microsoft/BOSS prices are not unreasonable if you are actively monetizing your page with search ads, but if you are doing an experimental search engine it is very stressful. If I suddenly get a surge in traffic, I could be broke very quickly.
zaidf 15y ago
I didn't even know Bing Search API let you just query it. IMO they should have done more evangalism before starting to charge. Has someone used this to re-create the classic Google search experience that Google has shit all over recently? On a different note, it seems both Google and Microsoft are in a battle to first commoditize the other's core product and then start charging. Google's getting more aggressive with charging for Apps. And now Microsoft with the index.
- Simucal 15y ago
  I think DDG uses this as one of its primary sources for search data.
mark_l_watson 15y ago
Disappointing, but I understand. I use the Bing APIs, probably only 4K to 5K calls per year, but useful. I don't think it is worth $40/month to me.
- wicknicks 15y ago
  Same here. I wish they had a free quota of around 1-2K calls per month.
drewvolpe 15y ago
This is too bad. The Bing API was a great service. I wish they would keep a free plan for hobbyists. A side project of mine is a search engine for coders (www.gigglebang.com) which I'll now have to take down or put ads on.
- boyter 15y ago
  I am with you there. http://searchco.de/ http://searchco.de/ uses the Bing API as a fallback when the main index cannot find anything. I was halfway through blending the results but will now have to fall back to my own indexing.

39 points by dhruvbird 15y ago

nextparadigms 15y ago

Let's see what happens to DuckDuckGo now, since it's dependent on Bing.

zackfern 15y ago
DuckDuckGo uses more than just Bing for it's search backend [1], however I wonder if their other sources are enough to compensate for the potential loss of Bing. [1] http://help.duckduckgo.com/customer/portal/articles/216399-sources http://help.duckduckgo.com/customer/portal/articles/216399-s...
rbanffy 15y ago
This is an important lesson about basing your business on someone else's APIs. I am confident, however, the folks at DDG planned for events like this.

Maven911 15y ago

I really hope DDG have thought out a backup plan, I am an avid user of their amazing service

hardtke 15y ago

It's interesting that Microsoft is planning to charge more than Yahoo! Boss for access to the same data. BOSS charges $0.80 per 1000 queries, while Microsoft is priced at $2 per 1000 queries. BOSS is also pay-as-you-go with no monthly minimum. BOSS has less restrictive terms and conditions (re-ordering allowed, for instance). I've been using the Bing API instead of Yahoo! BOSS for my metasearch engine for two reasons: the feed is free, and the response time is faster. The Microsoft/BOSS prices are not unreasonable if you are actively monetizing your page with search ads, but if you are doing an experimental search engine it is very stressful. If I suddenly get a surge in traffic, I could be broke very quickly.

zaidf 15y ago

I didn't even know Bing Search API let you just query it. IMO they should have done more evangalism before starting to charge. Has someone used this to re-create the classic Google search experience that Google has shit all over recently? On a different note, it seems both Google and Microsoft are in a battle to first commoditize the other's core product and then start charging. Google's getting more aggressive with charging for Apps. And now Microsoft with the index.

Simucal 15y ago
I think DDG uses this as one of its primary sources for search data.

mark_l_watson 15y ago

Disappointing, but I understand. I use the Bing APIs, probably only 4K to 5K calls per year, but useful. I don't think it is worth $40/month to me.

wicknicks 15y ago
Same here. I wish they had a free quota of around 1-2K calls per month.

drewvolpe 15y ago

This is too bad. The Bing API was a great service. I wish they would keep a free plan for hobbyists. A side project of mine is a search engine for coders (www.gigglebang.com) which I'll now have to take down or put ads on.

boyter 15y ago
I am with you there. http://searchco.de/ http://searchco.de/ uses the Bing API as a fallback when the main index cannot find anything. I was halfway through blending the results but will now have to fall back to my own indexing.