LAS VEGAS — In a move aimed at archrival Google, Microsoft has struck agreements to give its Internet search engine preferred treatment on most new Dell consumer computers and some Verizon Wireless cellphones.
The agreements, potentially worth hundreds of millions of dollars for Dell and Verizon, come as Microsoft continues to lose ground in the search business following its failed merger talks with No. 2 Internet search provider Yahoo.
Internet search, usually tied to online advertising, is widely seen as one of the most lucrative Internet businesses.
According to research company ComScore, Google handled almost 64 percent of all Internet searches conducted in November, compared with Yahoo’s 20 percent and third-place Microsoft’s 8 percent.
Microsoft chief executive Steve Ballmer was planning to announce the search-engine agreements Wednesday night in his keynote speech kicking off the annual International Consumer Electronics Show here.
The company also was expected to announce expansions of its best-selling Halo video-game franchise. In March, Microsoft plans to release “Halo Wars,” a new strategy game for its Xbox 360 gaming console. Later, it plans to release “Halo3 ODST.”
The agreements with Dell and Verizon are major coups for Microsoft and Ballmer, who last year became the company’s undisputed leader after founder Bill Gates left to spend more time on his philanthropic efforts.
