Microsoft (MSFT) has cut a deal with HP (HPQ) to put its Live Search into the internet tool bar which ships on the hardware companies PCs in the US and Canada. Redmond is, in essence, trying to buy search share.

According to The Wall Street Journal, "Google currently accounts for 62% of all searches in the U.S., while Yahoo has 20% and Microsoft 9%, Mr. Aggarwal estimates. That makes it important for Microsoft — which recently mounted and then withdrew a buyout bid for Yahoo — to increase its exposure with PC users."

Of course, most PC users are savvy in the way of internet browsing and will simply put Google (GOOG) on their bookmark list and use it for all of their searching.

Douglas A. McIntyre