Microsoft announced availability of its Bing search app for Android devices across US operators, following an initial period of exclusivity with Verizon Wireless. In a blog post, the company says that “we are pleased to announce that we have just released the Bing App to all major US mobile operators through Android Market.” The company launched the app exclusively with the US’ biggest mobile operator in August 2010, and Verizon will continue pre-installing it on new handsets.

At the time of the Verizon-only launch, Microsoft’s strategy came in for criticism due to the fact that it went against the widely-perceived “openness” of Android, in favour of a more commercially-motivated strategy.  Microsoft and Verizon announced a mobile search and advertising partnership early in 2009, having beat competition from Google and Yahoo.