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].

  • XLE@piefed.socialEnglish
    51·
    4 hours ago

    I have a hard time taking the “alliance” seriously when all three (mentioned) browsers are slightly different skins of Google Chromium.

    But unsurprisingly, they are correct about their competitor this time.

    • geekwithsoul@piefed.socialEnglish
      2·
      5 hours ago

      “…all three browsers are slightly different skins of Google Chromium”

      So - of the ‘major’ browsers, Chrome and Edge are Chromium, Safari is WebKit, and Firefox is Gecko. Obviously many more beyond that that are usually basic derivatives of Chromium or Gecko but very confused why you think that there are only three and why they are all Chromium?!

      • XLE@piefed.socialEnglish
        3·
        5 hours ago

        I was talking about “The Browser Choice Alliance, representing Chrome, Opera and Vivaldi”

        • geekwithsoul@piefed.socialEnglish
          2·
          4 hours ago

          Ah, sorry, missed you were talking about the group in the article and not browsers in general. And yeah, the “alliance” is likely just bought and paid for by Google.