How does Microsoft challenge Google’s hegemony in Web search in its unaccustomed role as a challenger brand? The answer is a caculated one. One frequent searcher credit at a time. The mighty Redmondites are offering enterprise customers free service and product credits if those customers promote Live search inside their enterprises. Called “Microsoft Service Credits for Web Search,” a Powerpoint overview of the program states:
“Employees search the web daily with tools from Google, Microsoft, or Yahoo. OEMs and web sites are already earning credits based on searches that their users bring. Now, your organization can earn credits for Microsoft web searches and redeem them for Microsoft or preferred partner deployment and training services. More searches earns more credits towards the services you value.”
According to reports which first broke on John Batelle’s Weblog, the value is non-trivial. The Powerpoint deck estimates companies can get from $2 to $10 per computer annually, plus a $25K “enrollment credit”. For sites that have tens of thousands of computers, that can add up to hundreds of thousands of dollars in free stuff from Microsoft. Most large enterprises spend millions on Microsoft services and software each year. It’s not hard to imagine a CFO getting jazzed over savings like these. [24×7]
Farecast Deals Cleared for Takeoff
Farecast.com, the airfare prediction pundits, has announced the launch of Farecast Deals, a new service that leverages the science of airfare data and advanced analytics to provide consumers a usable and authentic approach to airfare deals.
No other travel website helps consumers know “what” is a deal and “why” to buy now when shopping for cheap flights. Each day, Farecast utilizes billions of airfares to provide its free airfare predictions, and now uses this data to
help consumers uncover cheap tickets from their airport.
“Any website can claim to have the best deals, but many of those deals are based on marketing, not science,” said Hugh Crean, Farecast’s president
and chief executive officer. “Farecast.com is the only travel website that uses the power of over 175 billion airfares to help consumers understand
what is truly a good deal and why to buy now.”
Farecast offers deals for the following cities and airports: Atlanta (ATL), Boston (BOS), Chicago (MDW, ORD), Dallas (DFW), Denver (DEN),
Detroit (DTW), Houston (IAH), Indianapolis (IND), Las Vegas (LAS), Los Angeles (LAX, SNA, ONT, BUR, LGB), Miami (MIA, FLL, TPA), Minneapolis (MSP), New York (JFK, LGA, EWR), Orlando (MCO), Philadelphia (PHL), Phoenix (PHX), Portland (PDX), Raleigh Durham (RDU), Salt Lake City (SLC), San Diego (SAN), San Francisco (SFO, OAK, SJC), Seattle (SEA), St. Louis (STL), Tampa (TPA), West Palm Beach (PBI) and Washington DC (DCA, IAD, BWI). [24×7]
