After failing with ad appeals, Microsoft is now counting on the persuasive powers of cold hard cash to help it gain search market share, writes The New York Times.
The software and search giant is hoping to jumpstart use of its search engine by offering monetary credits to companies based on their use of Microsoft Live. Those credits, ranging from $2 to $10, depending on the volume of searches conducted, can then be used to purchase Microsoft products and services.

To determine how many searches are run, Microsoft would install a small bit of software that would keep a running tally. The program was first reported on John Battle's Search Blog last month and later confirmed by Microsoft.

Yahoo seemed to be on the cusp of launching a customer/searcher loyalty program last year but nothing of it has materialized. Microsoft's program would work on a larger scale, targeting large companies instead of single users.