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Editor: Matt Paines

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Microsoft to pay users to search

Microsoft is to try out a radical new tactic in its bid to muscle in on Google's massive share of the internet search market.The software giant is to reward users with cash when they buy designated products that they find using its Live Search engine.

Microsoft has already lined up a long list of participating retailers, which include the online operations of leading US names such as Sears, Home Depot, J&R Electronics, Barnes & Noble and Office Depot.

The new program, Live Search cashback, will pay back a proportion of the purchase price on eligible products, with refunds ranging between 2% and more than 30%.

However, users first need to sign up for a Live Search cashback account, where their rewards will be deposited.

Special icons will appear against eligible products on the main Live Search engine. Alternatively users will be able to access cashback products directly through the Live Search Cashback site.

Several industry analysts doubt Microsoft's latest move will do much to threaten Google's dominance in search.

Om Malik, founder of top IT blog GigaOm, said that Microsoft was like a bad restaurant- no matter what the incentive, you didn't want to eat there.

Their product, he added, wasn't working and their share of the market proved that.

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