Welcome to another bigmouthmedia newsletter, readers - here to bring you your weekly dose of search goodness. The past week has seen our favourite search engines embrace new challenges - and deal with a few persisting problems too.
To start, last week saw search giant Google sign a deal with Clearwire, the US wireless broadband provider. Simultaneously, Yahoo! signed a deal with start-up Proximic that could be set to challenge the dominance of Google AdSense.
However, the last couple of days has seen reports circulate that Yahoo! will be making hundreds of lay-offs in a dramatic push to restructure the firm's workforce. Additionally, Google has criticised the EU for bringing the issue of privacy into its competition-review of the Google-DoubleClick deal, which has yet to gain approval in Europe.
Nevertheless, there's still a lot of sun shining amidst the dark clouds for Google and Yahoo! this week. Google's humanitarian arm, Google.org announced its new InStedd project, which aims to assist global communities affected by natural disasters and public health threats.
Additionally, Yahoo! has been one of many prominent internet firms to declare its support for OpenID over the past week, stating that it will support the technology for all of its 248 million registered users.
And as a Singaporean company announces a worldwide challenge to develop new search technology, it seems that the world of search engines isn't just alive and well in 2008 - it's positively thriving. So for your regular fix of search news and gossip, look no further than the bigmouthmedia newsletter - putting you at the centre of search each week!
Privacy query sparks Google upset
Search engine giant Google has criticised lawmakers for questioning whether its takeover of DoubleClick will affect citizens' web privacy in their scrutiny of data issues in Europe.
Yahoo! expected to cut workforce
Internet portal and search engine provider Yahoo! is set to make a significant number of layoffs in an attempt to refocus its operations, according to reports.
EA to release free, ad-supported video game
US video game developer and distributor Electronic Arts (EA) has announced it is to release a free online version of new game Battlefield Heroes supported by advertising.
Google offers storage facility to scientists
Search engine giant Google is set to provide an online storage facility to scientists, it has been reported.
Challenge announced to pioneer next generation search engine
A challenge has just been announced by the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*Star) to develop technologies for a new rich media search engine.
Yahoo! to support OpenID
Reinforcing the current trend towards greater openness across the internet, search engine Yahoo! has announced it is to support OpenID.
Facebook users unite in attempt to save Scrabulous
Following the recent announcement that social networking firm Facebook has been ordered to remove the Scrabulous game from its site, fans of the application have joined together to mount a defence campaign.
Google's InStedd project involving Facebook 'set to launch'
Today (January 17th), a Google-funded global humanitarian technology project involving Facebook is set to launch, CNET News.com reports.
Proximic deal with Yahoo! could challenge Google's AdSense
Start-up company Proximic may be set to challenge Google's AdSense service after announcing it has signed an agreement with Yahoo! Shopping Network and eBay's Shopping.com.
Google signs deal with Clearwire
Google has signed a deal with wireless broadband provider Clearwire, it has been revealed.
