Microsoft apologises for Japan quake marketing tweet
Microsoft has been forced to make an apology following a marketing tweet aiming to raise money for victims of the tsunami and earthquake in Japan provoked a mixed response.
Yesterday, the technology company asked followers of its search engine Twitter account @Bing to retweet a message, with every retweet meaning that an extra $1 would be donated by Microsoft, up to $100,000.
Following the tweet some followers asked why the company didn’t simply donate the money, rather than trying to gain exposure, although many did retweet the message.
Later, the company tweeted a clarification message: "We apologise the tweet was negatively perceived. Intent was to provide an easy way for people to help Japan. We have donated $100K."
Microsoft has donated the money following a huge earthquake in Japan last week, which resulted in a tsunami of around 10 meters high killing thousands of people and causing hundreds of millions of dollars worth of destruction in its wake.