Spinner
19 Oct 2004, 2:14am
It would seem Microsoft are attempting to take MSN Messenger in a slightly new direction. Some features of the next major release of the popular IM client, version 7.0 (http://www.neowin.net/comments.php?id=24503&category=main&highlight=), will be likely to sport some options and features that are only available to paying customers.
MSN Messenger presents a problem for Microsoft in that they need to find an effective way to commercialise the product. Adverts at the bottom of the main window are un-liked (and un-noticed) by users, and probably don’t see much revenue - a recent beta survey for MSN Messenger asked a question along the lines of "would you pay for the removal of ads" – highlighting the low value placed on them. Ironically, Microsoft could probably make more money from charging users to remove the adverts than they could from actual advert revenue.
Hmmm...
Source: Neowin (http://www.neowin.net/comments.php?id=24912&category=main)
MSN Messenger presents a problem for Microsoft in that they need to find an effective way to commercialise the product. Adverts at the bottom of the main window are un-liked (and un-noticed) by users, and probably don’t see much revenue - a recent beta survey for MSN Messenger asked a question along the lines of "would you pay for the removal of ads" – highlighting the low value placed on them. Ironically, Microsoft could probably make more money from charging users to remove the adverts than they could from actual advert revenue.
Hmmm...
Source: Neowin (http://www.neowin.net/comments.php?id=24912&category=main)