Microsoft plans to give ad-funded cash rebates to
customers who purchase products through a new programme
calledMicrosoft
Live Search cashback.
Key partners have announced their participation in the scheme,
including eBay, Barnes &
Noble.com, Overstock.com, Sears, Zappos.com, and WPP.
The initiative is designed to help Microsoft
gain ground on Google and Yahoo when it comes to generating
search-based advertising revenues - they are well ahead of
Redmond in the market.
The complete Live Search cashback product portfolio includes
more than 10 million offerings from more than 700 merchants,
including more than 13 of the top 40 US retailers, said
Microsoft.
The company has also announced it has delivered a new Live
Search travel destination platform,
Live Search Farecast,
making it easier for searchers to find the best travel deals on the
web.
"We believe search can offer much more value to consumers and
advertisers than it does today, and we see Live Search cashback as
an important opportunity to deliver additional value," said
Microsoft chairman Bill Gates (pictured).
"Our goal is to make Live Search the most rewarding commercial
search destination on the Web. Live Search cashback will help
advertisers drive more online sales while giving consumers a new
way to stretch their dollars."
Live Search cashback, built on technology and partnerships
acquired through Microsoft's October 2007 purchase of comparison
shopping site Jellyfish, can be found at
http://www.live.com/cashback