The Channel Wire

October 01, 2008

Microsoft is making another attempt to drum up interest for its Live Search with its new SearchPerks program.

SearchPerks works like a credit card rewards program—consumers rack up points, called "tickets"—and exchange them for rewards. Any search through Live.com, MSN.com, Windows Live Hotmail or Windows Live Messenger earns a ticket, but users are limited to 25 tickets per day.

Microsoft, competing against the Google search juggernaut for search market share, previously offered Live Search users cash back for products they purchased online.

Right now Microsoft is offering a signup bonus of 500 tickets to encourage people to join the SearchPerks program.

To start using the program, users must download a toolbar called The Perk Counter from the SearchPerks Web site. The toolbar, according to Microsoft, only runs on machines with Windows XP or Vista and is only compatible with Internet Explorer, version 6.0 or higher. According to the SearchPerks Web site, the promotion will end on April 15, 2009.

Unlike most credit card rewards programs, though, users can't redeem their tickets whenever they choose.

"Once the promotion ends on April 15, 2009, you'll be able to choose your prize!" proclaims the SearchPerks Web site.

The promotion runs from Oct. 1, 2008, to April 15, 2009. That's 197 days, with a limit of 25 tickets earned per day. Add the 500-ticket bonus and that equals 5,425 tickets max a person can earn.

However, the Microsoft SearchPerks Web site claims "during the promotion there may be opportunities to receive additional tickets as determined by Microsoft. Any additional tickets earned will also be provided after completion of the promotion."

On the SearchPerks prize site, one of the prizes offered is a wireless Xbox controller, for 5,500 tickets. Several Xbox games are also offered, for 4,950 tickets. Will users find SearchPerks worth the effort?