WebProNews

Nearly three years after declaring search engines may need to pay their users, Microsoft may be on the cusp of doing that for users of Live Search.

"Google is getting about $50 per year for your searching. Yet, because it does not think it has any competition, it is not giving any of that back to you. As search becomes competitive and people realize that other offerings are as good, or are even significantly better, there will be price competition."
-- Bill Gates on paying searchers, Computing, November 2005

Microsoft wants to buy your Google love. At least, that's the hot rumor surrounding the company's advance08 event taking place this week.

Todd Bishop said Live Search's cashback program should debut today. The effort offers rebates on purchases made through participating retailers after a searcher discovers them on Live Search.

Among the early details, Microsoft will require an accumulation of a minimum $5 balance before paying the searcher. Also, Bishop cited a 60-day waiting period before payments will be made in case people return an item.

Microsoft plans to go with cost per action (CPA) pricing for ads leading to cash back-eligible purchases. This pricing method benefits the advertisers, as they only pay for real conversions, not just ad clicks.

Search Engine Watch noted how the cash back idea likely stems from Microsoft's acquisition of the Jellyfish product search site. Jellyfish operated with a cash back premise, and should form the core of Live Search's payback program.