Pimp your Messenger Display Name

[Jeff]

MSN and Windows Live Messenger have long allowed you to display a personal message next to your display name. Now 5Sai, a Chinese social networking site based around MSN Messenger, has introduced a program that allows you to sell that personal message to advertisers.

That's an innovative concept, although I can't tell you much more about it, as the site is in Chinese. Thankfully, China Web2.0 Review provides the details -- in English.

Here's how it works. You apply to the program. You must have 50 contacts or less, be online for at least three hours per day, and add a special chatbot and the advertiser/message to display. The chatbot is there to keep you honest.

Whether it works or not, I'll say this much -- it's a creative idea

[PolarBearNPR]

Hey - I think I've seen this on a friend's WLM message already . . . something about Australians Wouldn't Give a . . . or Hungry? Why wait? Grab . . . ;)

[Jeff]

That seems to be going around, PolarBearNPR. Of course, if there was a link in there, it would be even better, eh?

[PolarBearNPR]

But on a serious note, I can't imagine putting an ad on my IM window. When I've got several open of all sizes, it would crowd up my screen and certainly those of folks I'm talking with. Unless it would significantly increase my bank account, I wouldn't bother myself or my friends with such . . . for lack of a better word . . . spam. Of course, if it was a product or service that I really believed in and I got mucho dinero then maybe; just maybe.

[Stationary_Greg]

Even with the bot I would imagine that the only barrier between someone cheating the system into giving them 100 multiples of the cash is not that its particularly difficult just that the effort isn't worth the money