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Microsoft Extends Bing Loyalty Program To UK, Chance To Star In Charli XCX Music Video

It seems that Microsoft will try just about anything, within reason, to get people to use Bing. It has integrated its voice search virtual assistant Cortana into the Windows operating system, and also launched a loyalty program in the U.S. in 2010 -- revamped since -- and now is rolling it out in the UK. 

Amidst all the fanfare and the UK press harking that Bing is "resorting to paying people to use it," the brand will give searchers a chance to win a once in-a-lifetime experience to participate in the latest music video from Charli XCX.

XCX, who is 24 years old, is best known in the UK for her appearance on Icona Pop’s "I Love It" and Iggy Azalea’s "Fancy." Her 2014 single "Boom Clap" was featured on the soundtrack to the film "The Fault in Our Stars."

The Microsoft Rewards program gives points to those searching the Internet on Bing. The points are redeemable for shopping trips in its online store. Previously, the loyalty program was only available in the United States. Now Microsoft has migrated the offering for the loyalty program in the UK.

Searchers can put the points toward a range of items from music and movies to games, app and devices. Points also can be turned into charitable donations. In the U.S., users are awarded up to three points per search for about 30 days at Level 1.

In the UK, Level 2 members get up to 10% off Microsoft brands. A month-long Xbox Live Gold Membership costs 6,000 points and a Xbox digital gift card costs 5,300 points. A Windows store card costs 5,850 points. 

It's not clear whether searches through bots will or do count as points, and if every interaction with the bot will rack up the rewards, but it's worth a try.  

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