By Tameka Kee , June 2, 2008

Microsoft Wins Default Search Space On HP Computers
Search Engine Land
While the blogosphere focused on Microsoft's cashback deal, the software giant was plugging away at another, behind-the-scenes deal that would secure it even more search market share. It's a deal with HP for Live Search to be packaged as the default engine with all new computers--and Microsoft wrestled the agreement away from Yahoo.

Starting January 2009, new HP computers sold in North America will include an edition of Internet Explorer that includes a special Live Search toolbar. Of course, Live Search will be set as the default engine in the search box, and the toolbar will include Microsoft's rich media and video platform Silverlight.

In the software giant's own words, this deal is the most "significant" PC distribution deal it has ever done. And as Danny Sullivan notes, the deal is "far more important to Live Search's potential growth," than any cashback promotion.