Microsoft acquires 'ad exchange' company AdECN
Underscoring its commitment to the advertising business, Microsoft on Thursday announced it has bought AdECN, a company that is a technology platform for buying and selling display advertising.
Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Speaking at Microsoft's Financial Analysts Day, Kevin Johnson, president of Microsoft's Platform and Services Division, told financial analysts that the deal complements Microsoft's adCenter software and its planned acquisition of Aquantive.
He said that AdECN provides an ad exchange, like electronic stock trading markets, that allows publishers and advertisers to broker the sale of display advertising.
AdECN is a venture-backed company based in Santa Barbara, Calif., which was founded in 2003 and has about 30 employees.
Martin LaMonica is a senior writer for CNET's Green Tech blog. He started at CNET News in 2002, covering IT and Web development. Before that, he was executive editor at IT publication InfoWorld. E-mail Martin. 
