When you have Google answering everybody's questions, it's no surprise that Microsoft's Bing search engine doesn't find too many takers. Microsoft launched Bing in 2009, and in an attempt to get more users to start using the search engine, introduced the Bing Rewards programme in 2010. Microsoft has now introduced this programme to its users in India.
To activate the programme, users are required to sign in to their Microsoft accounts (or create it if they don't have one) and start using Bing. For every unique search query, Bing will award users one point and a maximum of ten points can be earned in one day. Users are awarded ten free points for signing up for the programme and will need to remain signed in while using Bing for the points to accrue.
Microsoft has tied up with FreeCharge to offer users cash coupons that can be earned by redeeming points earned.
Currently, users have two options of redeeming their earned points. They can either accrue 90 points and redeem them for a Rs 30 FreeCharge coupon, or they can accrue 210 points and receive a coupon worth Rs 70 in exchange.
The cash value of these coupons can be realised by entering the coupon code in the FreeCharge app or at FreeCharge's website.
Snapdeal-owned FreeCharge is in direct competition with Paytm in the digital payments space. Apart from offering an e-wallet service, FreeCharge allows users to recharge their mobile phone balances, pay for DTH subscriptions and pay data card bills. It also allows users to pay electricity bills, landline bills and pipe gas bills. It has also tied up with the Mumbai Metro and allows users to top up their smartcards.
Users can sign up for the programme here.
