[Am-info] Microsoft tries flushing away iLoo

[Mitch Stone]

I used to think Microsoft would never be good for much, but the 
entertainment value on this story is immeasurable.

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http://news.com.com/2100-1041_3-1001405.html

Microsoft tries flushing away iLoo

By Reuters
May 13, 2003, 7:00 PM PT

Is it a Web-surfing portable toilet or a public relations nightmare--or 
both?

Microsoft reversed its position for the second time in 24 hours Tuesday 
over whether it had ever planned to launch a portable toilet with a 
built-in Internet terminal in Britain this summer.

On Monday, the world's largest software maker had said the "iLoo," 
which was described in minute detail in an April 30 press release by 
its British subsidiary, was a hoax and apologized for any "confusion or 
offense."

But Microsoft switched its story Tuesday and said that the iLoo had 
been a legitimate project by its British MSN Internet service that was 
terminated after the initial announcement prompted controversy, 
ridicule and disgust.

"Corporate headquarters in Redmond, Wash., looked at it and decided 
maybe this wasn't a good idea," said Lisa Gurry, MSN group product 
manager.