Microsoft Corporation (MSFT) vs. Google Inc. (GOOG) Mail

Let us know if you have heard this one before. Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) seems to have a little bit of a problem with Google Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOG) and the way it handles its free e-mail service called Gmail. Microsoft is advocating for users of the service, reaching out to try to educate users about what Google does with the millions of emails that are sent out – and how Google makes money with the information they gather.

Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) is pushing for privacy as part of promoting its Outlook e-mail service, by putting forth the knowledge that Gmail by Google Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOG) is normally scanned for information that becomes targeted advertising. Microsoft is launching this campaign a second ime, called “Don’t Get Scroogled by Gmail” in an attempt to draw some users to switch their -mail address to Outlook, which Microsoft says does not scan messages for advertising purposes.

Late Wednesday, Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) revealed some results of a consumer study that suggests that “scanning” that Google Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOG) does with its e-mail service is not widely known, and is not looked at favorably when it is known.  The research revealed that 70 percent of respondents did not know that major free e-mail services scanned their e-mail messages for advertising purposes, but of those who were thus informed, 88 percent did not approve of it. Microsoft brought out a preview of Outlook.com last summer and has been transitioning it to replace the company’s Hotmail e-mail service.

“This campaign is as much about protecting Outlook.com users from Gmail as it is about making sure Gmail users know what Google’s doing,” said Stefan Weitz, Microsoft online services director.

What are Gmail users asked to do as part of this privacy campaign?