Microsoft Bribing Users?

Do you want a quick way to get Microsoft points? Well actually its not that quick but at least it is legal and free. You don't here those two words together often.

Microsoft has launched their latest campaign to bribe users to use their Bing search engine. Essentially, you install the Bing Bar and everytime you make five searches using the bing searchbar you get 1 point upto a maximum of 10 per day. Then occasionally there are certain offers which when clicked (usually boasting the features of Bing) gives you 3 points. These points can be exchanged for prizes which for now is only available for US residents. However the downloadable content such as music, ringtones and Microsoft points can all be available to everyone as long as you give them a US address (The best way is to use a hotel address) and they will email you the redemption code.

There are a few problems with this plan though. An average game for PC costs 2400 Microsoft points. It will take you 240 days to get this many points if you search each and every day for a maximum of 10 points. Adding in the occassional offers, you will still take ages to collect the points necessary to get anything decent. On top of this there is the privacy concern. You are basically giving everything you search for to Microsoft so they can "analyse" it.

After several failed attempts like Searchperks and Cashback do you think Bing Rewards will be enough to make users switch to Bing?