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April 15, 2005
Volunteer Slavery: MSN Messenger Ads
Posted by Stowe Boyd
How did I miss this news?
[from
E-Commerce News: Technology: New Version of MSN Messenger Released]
In its latest bid to make money on free Internet services, Microsoft (Nasdaq: MSFT) Latest News about Microsoft is betting that consumers will be willing to use their instant messaging Latest News about instant messaging identities as billboards for products ranging from Sprite to Adidas sneakers.
The newest version of MSN Messenger instant messaging product, released late yesterday, allows consumers to download free backgrounds, pictures and other content tied to specific ad campaigns. The hope is that users will then share those downloads with other consumers -- providing another boost to advertisers, who pay Microsoft for the privilege.
Attracting Users
Blake Irving, a corporate vice president with Microsoft's MSN online unit, said the company hopes to attract users who are so taken by the advertising campaigns that they choose to associate themselves with the brand -- much like a person might buy a Starbucks (Nasdaq: SBUX) Latest News about Starbucks. coffee mug.
Yikes. I hate self-identity building through brand affiliation in the abstract, and in my IM client in specific.
That reminds me, I am going to do a mockup of what the perfect real-time desktop client should look like, in the hopes that someone out there will read it, and build it for me. Lord knows, I have explained the ideas to dozens of real-time technology companies, and to date no one has come close. Next week. I promise.
[pointer from John Husband]
[Arieanna Foley blogged about this here at Get Real recently, and I missed it!]
Comments (1)
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1. Arieanna on April 15, 2005 06:35 PM writes...
Yeah Stowe! I saw this and had a "Hey!" moment. Nice to know you're reading my posts. :)
I totally agree that advertising is going over the top though. The concept of building identities through brands has seemed to spur on advertisers to new heights, and with new excuses. However, the line should be drawn somewhere. I tend to believe that my IM is less of a public space, and therefore not one I would like branded. Since most of my IMing is just me seeing the IM, it's a very private space.
I am starting to use Skype more and more these days, perhaps because it is less cluttered with advertising.
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