Yes, this really is free money from Microsoft. What to know.

Microsoft has launched a new rewards program offering Chrome users “real cash value” points to switch to Edge browser[^1]. When users search for “Chrome” on Bing, they receive a prompt offering 1,300 Microsoft Rewards points that can be exchanged for gift cards, including on Amazon[^1].

The Browser Choice Alliance, representing Chrome, Opera and Vivaldi, criticizes this as Microsoft’s latest tactic to manipulate browser choice, following earlier practices like “forced resets, misleading prompts, and hidden settings”[^1].

The market context shows why Microsoft is pursuing this strategy - Edge holds less than 9% market share compared to Chrome’s 78%[^1]. The rewards program appears targeted specifically at Chrome users, with Windows Latest noting “we’re not seeing ads for other browsers, such as Opera, Firefox or Brave”[^1].

  • Lvxferre [he/him]@mander.xyzEnglish
    10·
    7 hours ago

    The strategy of using Windows monopoly to force other programs+services is so deeply ingrained in Microsoft that, when it fails, MS doesn’t know what to do. Specially when dealing with a bigger bully like Google.

    First MS tried to be pushy with Edge. Users remembered IE, and said “no”.

    Then MS tried to be even pushier. Except being too pushy backfires, so users were saying “no” louder.

    Now they’re offering “rewards”? This won’t change shit, except highlight that MS knows Edge to be useless to the users, and that the only way people would consider using Edge is if they’re paid for that.

    And it’s no secret that Edge is a reskinned Chromium. As in, anyone who’d avoid Google software would also avoid Edge.