DISQUS

last100: Microsoft Points - what’s next for the company’s virtual currency?

  • David Mackey · 2 years ago
    I'm looking forward to a virtual currency like this. I agree with Gates, there are far too many and too large transactional fees - especially for small purchases. Ideally, a large number of individuals/organizations would use the points system and there would be no need to cash out (causing transaction fees) except in rare cases. e.g. You'd be able to receive payment in points for work you do, spend it on groceries, etc.
  • steve matlock · 2 years ago
    We already have this financial transaction system called "money." It's backed by the full faith and credit of a government.

    Points are kept in the system, whereas money is fungible & transferrable. (Try to get a refund of points.)

    Services that provide micropayments and other fractional or periodic disbursements of money will win over systems that deal with points.
  • Dan · 2 years ago
    If the government has borrowed more in the past 5 years than the 224 years previous, and its currency's value is on a steady decline, then perhaps these "points" could be more valuable than "money" backed by that government.
  • Michael · 2 years ago
    In your list of why Microsoft created points, you didn't mention the float. We're all invited to deposit real money into the Bank of Microsoft, earning no interest to us, and providing no value until we decide to purchase something. Meanwhile, Microsoft has free use of our actual, fungible cash for currency trading, investment, or what have you.
  • peter · 2 years ago
    i think the idea of points is good, but i just got xbox live and an account. i made a name and began to play. i realized that i wanted to change my name because i wrote it without really thinking. as i went to change it i realized that it would cost me 10 dollars which is rediculous just to change a name. i like the points but some of the content is not worth as much as it is
  • Photoshop Video Tutorials · 2 years ago
    wonderfull articl