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Source:Mashable!

It is almost a given today that Google is the master in the search space, making money hand over fist because of its dominance. On the flip side of the coin we have Microsoft, whose efforts with search is the constant fodder for blogs wanting to take shots at the company. Granted Microsoft’s place in the search hierarchy isn’t anything that they can be proud of, but as a cash rich company they should never be underestimated.

Earlier today Stan Schroeder posted the news on Mashable about Microsoft acquiring Greenfield Online for a princely sum. Much of the talk within the tech blogosphere about the deal is one of confusion. Many of the people are wondering why Microsoft would be interested in buying the company and then only keeping Ciao!, the European shopping and price comparison site. The other parts of the company apparently already have buyers lined up for the rest of the Greenfield Online company.

On the surface this would seem  to be a rather strange acquisition for Microsoft, with some suggesting that the purchase is just a way to increase its reach into the European market. For Microsoft though the idea behind the purchase is to primarily integrate Ciao! capabilities into Microsoft Live Search

makes the company a fantastic asset to the future of our search offer. Integrating Ciao’s capabilities into Live Search will provide a strong launchpad for our commercial search offer in Europe and enhance our e-commerce offering on MSN.”

Just by itself this news really may not seem like that much. However, there could be another way to look at this which is what Allen Stern of CenterNetworks is proposing. The idea is that Microsoft may not be interested in the same type of information search business that Google dominates right now.

In his post about the Live Search Cashback program Allen suggests that this could still be a success for the company

The issue that so many writers are missing is that this new cashback option will never get users who are looking for information to switch. Why would I switch from Google to Microsoft Live Search Cashback when I am looking for cat photos? Microsoft is sitting on a huge homerun if they could get their ducks in a row about how to market this tool properly.

For example, why would ANYONE not start a purchase on the Microsoft site?

Especially if that search is including the technology from one of the leading European shopping and price comparison businesses, which will make finding the deals available even easier. Tie that in with the cashback program, which as Allen also points out is returning some really decent savings

Look at these cashback amounts:

Zappos - 22.5%

Footlocker - 45%

Newegg - 3%

In the deal hunter segment, the Microsoft Live Search Cashback is doing well from my perspective. Fatwallet continues to be a discussion place for the cashback search and as of yesterday there are now merchants paying up to 62.5% back.

While many in the tech industry and blogging world might argue that there is no way that Microsoft can beat Google in the search space it could be  that they are forgetting something. Not everyone coming on the web to search for stuff is trying to find information. A verge percentage of those people are shoppers looking for products and any deals available. For Microsoft this could very well be the route to success in the search space. give the people a real solid reason to use Live Search over Google when looking to buy stuff – give them money back via deep discounts.

Microsoft has deep enough pockets and has proven that it is more than willing to lose money in the beginning in order to make big money in the end. People in general don’t expect to have to pay money for the information they find on the web but they do expect to have to pay for products that they might buy. In this case if Microsoft can provide them with better product search results and a way to save money they could indeed make Google start looking over their shoulder.

—Related Articles at Mashable! - The Social Networking Blog:Google Product Search Not as FroogleZoomInfo Launches Semantic Search EngineRelevantMind’s New Social Search for Product ReviewsStartup Search Launches Web 2.0 DirectoryMicrosoft Live Search Now Lets You Get Cashback Rewards on eBayIs the new Microsoft Live Search Up and Running?Mahalo Follow Offers Poor Comparative Search Tools

Source:Mashable!

Today has marked the announcement of Republican US candidate for Vice-President, and while Senator Obama’s VP pick was greeted with the fanfare and gushing praise, McCain’s VP pick has received curiously received a lot more mixed buzz.

Certainly, there are some bits that make her an interesting pick - she’s as about as far outside the beltway as can possibly be imagined, as the Governor of Alaska. Her Wikipedia entry this morning was perhaps aptly lacking in detail, but it’s rapidly filled up, clocking in at roughly thirteen screenfuls at the moment.

The lack of readily available information in the places we typically look has lead to some interesting .. non-standard (?) … resources having cropped up in their stead.

On the serious side, Mahalo tracked down an interesting (considering the source) interview with Sarah Palin by Charlie Rose:

Perhaps less in depth, but more indicative of the lifestyle and attitude of the governor of is a particularly interesting find by Elisabeth Lewin over at Podcasting News of this interview with the governor by Scott Slone of Alaska Podshow.

Perhaps most interestingly (and what’s been the inspiration for this post) is the wide variety of Sarah Palin Facts that have been popping up on the various microblogging networks like Twitter and FriendFeed today. If you’ve missed them, they’re very reminiscent of the Chuck Norris Facts, and our crack team of Mashable investigators have tracked this meme back to its source, the imaginatively named Sarah Palin Facts.

I’ve selected a few favorites from the site, but I’m sure you’ve “heard” a few yourself neither we nor the SPF creators have heard of.

You know what to do with them - fill up the comments field with your best.

Sarah Palin Facts:

Little Known Fact: Sarah Palin is the only woman who can make Tony Romo WIN a playoff.

Little Known Fact: Sarah Palin would have just had an Eagle drop the Ring into Mount Doom.

Little Known Fact: The Arctic Circle runs through Alaska so the Sun can have some relief from Sarah Palin’s bright glare.

Little Known Fact: Sarah Palin makes Andrew Sullivan regret some key life choices.

Little Known Fact: Sarah Palin will send Biden a pre-debate cheat sheet. The sheet will have tips on defending against Kung Fu Death Grip.

Little Known Fact: If placed into Schroedinger’s experiment, both Sarah Palins remain alive.

… and perhaps most frighteningly, this little known fact: Sarah Palin scares Chuck Norris.

—Related Articles at Mashable! - The Social Networking Blog:7 Resources for Learning More About Republican VP Candidate Sarah PalinSarah Lane Explains It All [podcast]Latest Justin.tv Channel Launched in Bay AreaBusinessWeek’s Sarah Lacy Writes Web 2.0 ExposeParis is No Silicon Valley: Neither is Europe14 Fun Facts about Mashable 2007Grand Effect Blog Network Relaunches

This entry was posted on Friday, August 29th, 2008 at 11:34 pm and is filed under News, Lists, Opinion, Washington DC, Political, john mccain, sarah palin, tina fey. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.