Microsoft Bets the Farm on Bing

Microsoft has essentially said it's betting the farm on Internet search and Bing. But it may be that it's real target isn't Google, but instead Yahoo.

The idea that Microsoft could catch Google in search is a pipe dream, even if Microsoft has said that it's willing to spend up to $11 billion on search in the next five years. Google has too much of a head start, as well as the ability and willingness to spend as much money as possible to make sure it stays on top.

But Microsoft doesn't need to be number one in search in order to be successful. If the company could leapfrog Yahoo and become number 2, there's the possibility that its search investment may pay off.