Microsoft has now admitted that its wired Dunny - the iLoo - was not a hoax.

In a statement issued last night Microsoft UK had this to say.

It follows a UK strategy to bring the Internet to as many people in Britain as possible and encourage debate about how the Internet can affect our lives now and in the future.

It follows other initiatives such as MSN Street and MSN Internet Bench where we placed the Internet in real world scenarios.

The press announcement was a UK story about a UK market initiative and naturally was aimed at British culture and humour. However it was a serious concept that came about after the success of MSN Internet Bench. It was properly researched to concept stage with product designers and specialist manufacturers to see how people would react to it in the UK. It was always meant to be a one-off pilot not a major manufacturing project.

The attention the story generated has made us sure that the concept is valid, however there was some misunderstanding about the context of the initiative along the way and therefore it will not be built.

Earlier this week the monster company said that the iLoo press release came out of the UK and that it was not a Microsoft-sanctioned communication.

Except, it's now clear that it was genuine.

Someone, somewhere has cocked up. Someone, somewhere is clearly "off message" and definitely not singing from the same hymn sheet". How amusing. ®

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