Gates: "Share Profit With Users"

you search, MSN pays

[RonPK]

In a swipe at Google, Gates said Microsoft’s search products might eventually give users software programs or even cash after they click on an advertisement.

Source [thenewstribune.com]

[kevinpate]

If it ain't some form of windoze-pal credit or some freebie compelte with spyware miner called gatestor,:) it might be worth thinking about, 'after' they figure out search of course.

[JaySmith]

Interesting... so they are going to pay users to click on ads that cost me, the advertiser money.. sounds like a great reason never to advertise on their network...

[eljefe3]

I didn't see anywhere where they said they would pay you to click on the ad. I'm sure they can come up with something to get the user to rely on MSN search more and other search engines less provided they refine their SERP's.

[martinibuster]

Bill Gates:

"We'll actually go to users and say instead of us keeping all that ad revenue, we'll actually share some of it back with the user...[who] essentially will get paid, either money or free content or software things that they wouldn't get if they didn't use that search engine."

It sound like incentivizing clicks. But he could be referring to rewarding users for registering with them, and using their various services like MSN Spaces, and hotmail etc.

Nevertheless, it's disheartening to hear Bill Gates phrase something as badly as this.

It's a disappointing statement because it makes him sound out of touch.

[stinkfoot]

GO Bill GO!

Google and Yahoo are getting way to big for thier boots! Thank the lord that Bill has the power to put them back in thier places, well maybe one day /wink.

[cubfan]

If it ain't some form of windoze-pal credit or some freebie compelte with spyware miner called gatestor,:) it might be worth thinking about, 'after' they figure out search of course.

I think this is exactly what it will be. Credits you can use for updates or something completely lame like that. Or free access to the Premium Bill Gates Advertorial Network (aka MSN.com)

[HughMungus]

He said nothing about rewarding people for clicks. What he DID say was rewarding people for using a certain search engine (because, obstensibly, more users = more clicks on context ads). If I run a search engine and am making $100/user/year, why not give incentives to people for using that search engine? Airlines have air miles. I think of it as "search miles©" OK I own that phrase now.

Gates' comments are funny becaues he's taking a swipe at Google (as in -- hey dummies, Google is making a killing on your searches!).

There was another discussion on this very topic. Can't find it right now though.