Microsoft To Sell Ad Space In Error Messages
Microsoft (Nasdaq: MSFT) announced that it is selling advertising space in the
error messages that appear in Windows. Acknowledging for the first time that the
average user of their operating system encounters error messages at least
several times a day, Microsoft is trying to take financial advantage of the
unavoidable opportunity to make an ad impression.
"We estimate that throughout the world at any given moment several
million people are getting a ‘General Protection Fault’ or ‘Illegal
Operation’ warning. We will be able to generate significant revenue by
including a short advertising message along with it," said Microsoft
marketing director Nathan Mirror. He also mentioned that Microsoft is intended
to add banner ads into its Blue Screen of Death in the near future.
The Justice Department immediately indicated that they intend to investigate
whether Microsoft is gaining an unfair advantage in reaching the public with
this advertising by virtue of its semi-monopolistic control over error messages.
