Time and time again, companies with monopolies prove they can sit on their laurels and (while it lasts) extort money from their customers. Today it is Google with their web ads.

From their promo video I like how they are trying to categorize search results. One cannot judge the product from its initial release. In 6-9 months, let’s see how the product has evolved.

Keep in touch, I’ve got some few ideas in the works at the moment that might resonate with you.

Microsoft probably won’t make Bing successful by spending $100 million, but that’s not because it isn’t possible to do it. It’s because Microsoft generally sucks at creating effective ad messages. The only software/SaaS company I can think of that’s worse than Microsoft at that is IBM.

Nathan, you bring out the best in all of us. Love the comments. Honestly. Most do hit the mark though and I can’t deny that. I need more of that here.

In regards to my comment about hotwire, I use hotwire because its fulfilling my needs at the moment. Although, $100 million in marketing will not make me a long term user. In short term, it is fulfilling my need but when the next ‘lower priced’ competitive offering comes along, I will move over right away.

For $100 million, I want more than that, but maybe that’s just my wishful thinking. We can do much with that in this economic environment. Microsoft can spend $100 million but if my results are not accurate, its not going to make me change. Otherwise, we always had Yahoo! right?

Though introducing MS as “the home of the Zune” is kind of counter to your argument, isn’t it? ;D (The ZUNE being (IMHO) a better product than the iPod (or at least as good), but with zero traction in the market due to a) late entry into the game, and b) poor marketing and advertising on Microsoft’s part.

Just pulling your chain a little bit. ;) Aside from their X-Box business, Microsoft doesn’t do marketing and advertising very well. They’re obviously partnering with the wrong agencies. And I have to say that although their search product needed a revamping, this is most definitely the road they should have gotten on.

By the way, you probably ought not to be pointing people to the Google Wave presentation. All of Lotus had better PRAY that Google has massive implementation problem, ’cause they just drank your milkshake.

Regarding the statement by Seth, I think its referring to spending millions to create a branding experience that can be duplicated/imitated or replaced easily. In Canada, we are fans of hotwire as opposed to priceline, so it means nothing me already. Next..

;)

“In fact, I can’t think of one successful online brand that was built with cash.”

That’s an unimaginative statement. How about Priceline? Hotels.com? E-Trade? The iPhone App store?

For Bing, too little, too late. Your right we don’t need or want the Next, we want something that does what we want with little effort. MS is like a fat kid at a buffet, they want everything with little regard for quality.