Microsoft Offers $1m Msn Search Prize

[Thaising]

Microsoft is offering web users the chance to get their hands on $1m worth of prizes in return for using its MSN Search website.

In what seems like a frantic bid to get users to switch from arch-rival Google, the software giant has launched a three-month promotion around MSNSearchandWin.

"We are hopeful that once people give it a shot they will want to come back again and again," said Lisa Gurry, director of marketing at MSN Search.

According to Nielsen//NetRatings, MSN's search engine ranks third behind Google and Yahoo. MSN had 10.9 per cent of web searches in December 2005, down from 14 per cent in December 2004.

The business model of using incentives to attract web searchers is not new. For one Google-partnered site, Blingo.com, giving away prizes to web search users is the entire business structure.

Blingo receives revenue from Google for referring web search users to its results. The company takes some of that revenue and dispenses prizes to users who access Google via the site.

Blingo chief executive Frank Anderson claimed that the site has tens of thousands of users. "It's the same business as Google has; we're just using incentives to get people to use our site," he said.

[george]

Source?

URL?

[Phil Conners]

"We are hopeful that once people give it a shot they will want to come back again and again," said Lisa Gurry, director of marketing at MSN Search.

Not a chance. Never Microslush, not if they were the last option on the block.

[tavarich]

This sounds like it was recieved via email. One of those get rich chain letters that some poor misguided soul has sent on down the line.

[Tywais]

Source?

URL?

Since you asked: MSN Search and Win

and Press release

The search and win site server seems to be really busy, hard to get in. Also, it is not a $1M dollar prize but combined prizes equaling $1M

Edited February 21, 2006 by tywais

[cnnaing]

is it true or fate or one kind of marketing?

[Guest endure]

US residents only as usual. Microsoft don't do themselves any favours with this kind of thing especially in Europe

[britmaveric]

maybe - could be just a ploy to receive hits!!!!

[zoltannyc]

I guess the $1m is total prizes, (in the US in most of the cases prizes are totalled) however the site is http://www.msnsearchandwin.com/

[johnh101]

Jing jing, mai koh hok, roi percent, I no work bar now I stay home look after sick mama.....

sounds like another likely tale !

Edited February 22, 2006 by johnh101