Windows Live Messenger: Socially Responsible IM-ing
Image from Microsoft Live Messenger
The temple of Bill Gates wants you to feel like you’re making a difference—the latest incarnation of MSN Messenger, now rebranded Windows Live Messenger, is targeting the bleeding-heart demographic. Every time you have a conversation via the free app, Microsoft donates a portion of its ad revenues to your choice of participating non-profits, which include the American Red Cross, Stop Global Warming, and the Sierra Club. How much “a portion” represents (5 percent? 0.1 percent? 0.01 percent?), however, is not clear, though, to the company’s credit, its Web site does state that no cap has been set on how much money each organization gets.
Michael said,
March 8, 2007 at 7:51 pm
You’re probaly not aware of it, but according to LiveSide (a Windows Live fan site) Microsoft will donate at least $100,000 to each organization, not including the money generated from the “I’m” users (http://liveside.net/blogs/main/archive/2007/03/01/i-m-making-a-difference.aspx). So essentially, Microsoft is dishing out $900,000 + more for all 9 organizations. That seems pretty generous to me. By reading this article, you make it sound so negative.
It also sound like you don’t believe that Microsoft is seriously going to donate to these organizations, or at least not so much. I think Microsoft is doing a ton to promote this. They clearly list all 9 organizations on their site, and they even give you links to their site + a downloadable theme pack from each organization for your Live Messenger (http://im.live.com/Messenger/IM/Causes/). You know, so you can show off how you’re helping these organizations. I doubt they would go back off what they claim to be doing.
Jasmin said,
March 8, 2007 at 8:02 pm
Reposted from e-mail:
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Michael,
They didn’t state that on their Web site, but bully for them if it is true. I don’t hide my cynicism when it comes to large corporations—they are created for profit, after all. Why take anything at face value? If they are truly sincere about doing good, then any doubts would be unfounded and immaterial.
–Jasmin
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Another question to ask: How much is Microsoft making from this and the viral campaign they’ve launched? Is altruism part of it? Perhaps—Bill Gates, after all, has done some admirable charitable work. But corporate social responsibility is also good business these days and it’s highly unlikely that the entire campaign is out of the goodness of their hearts. If it were so, why not donate all the proceeds? Microsoft isn’t exactly strapped for cash.
Only fools and simpletons do not ask questions.