SAN FRANCISCO - Stymied in its attempt to buy Yahoo!(YHOO Quote), Microsoft(MSFT Quote) plans to buy search market share directly from consumers.
In a speech at a company advertising forum Wednesday, Chairman Bill Gates announced a plan to give ad-funded cash rebates to consumers who buy certain products through the Microsoft Live Search cashback program.
Joining Gates to announce the program were partners eBay(EBAY Quote), Barnes & Noble(BKS Quote), Overstock.com(OSTK Quote), Sears(SHLD Quote), shoe retailer Zappos.com, and advertising powerhouse WPP(WPPGY Quote).
With such a cast of retailers committed, plans for the program must predate both Yahoo!'s rejection in early May of Microsoft's buyout offer and even the offer itself, disclosed in February. ...
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