Microsoft’s Live Search is coming up with a new strategy, ‘Live Search Cash Back Programme’, to help attract more users and thereby boost their web search market standing. Under it, users will be paid back by Microsoft for using Live Search to search for and then buy the products from participating online retailers.

The cash back for the users will range from 2 per cent to 30 per cent of the purchase price, whatever is claimed by Microsoft for that particular product/vendor. To start off, several merchants like Home Depot, Barnes & Nobles and J & R Electronics have already been commissioned by Microsoft to participate in this programme.

There are some who are calling this move a ‘desperate’ way to gain mileage against its competitors. They are of the opinion that Microsoft has always wanted to conquer the computer world by monopolising it. On the other hand, this move by Microsoft is being lauded as a ‘smart’ one by many, especially from the point of view of users who view and click on the ads that are displayed. This new reward programme is probably something that would come in handy for them.