yosemiteApple is further distancing itself from Google and expanding its relationship with Microsoft Bing in the next version of Mac OS X, Yosemite, unveiled earlier today and scheduled for broad release earlier this fall.

An overhauled version of the Mac OS X Spotlight search will rely on Bing for web searches, the Redmond company confirmed this afternoon, after Apple listed Bing among the service providers powering the feature earlier today.

“Last year Bing became the default web search for Siri, and will now also be the default web search provider in the redesigned Spotlight search feature for the next generation of iOS and OS X,” said Stefan Weitz, Microsoft senior director of search, in a statement this afternoon. “We’re excited about extending the Bing platform to help iOS and Mac customers find what they need to get things done.”

The move is a win for Microsoft’s search engine, and underscores the competitive tension between Apple and Google, particularly in smartphone operating systems. Google is expected to remain the default search engine for Apple’s Safari browser, for now, in what Danny Sullivan of Search Engine Land speculates is the result a contractual commitment.

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