Microsoft aims to be one of 'top two' in Web advertising

Microsoft aims to be one of the top two players in the online advertising market in three to five years, the company's ad chief says.

The story "Microsoft aims to be one of 'top two' in Web advertising" published November 15, 2007 at 8:40 AM is no longer available on CNET News.

Content from Reuters expires after 30 days.

[luka26]

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[rubenerd]

In other news, GM is going to start making hairspray!

This company never ceases to amaze me.

I think most of us on the intertubes are becoming wary of Microsoft's efforts online. They suffer from the biggest case of "me too!" syndrome I've ever seen: If Google or Technorati or Yahoo or Chuck Norris are doing it, by their very deifnition they need to sink billions into emulating their competition.

This kind of thinking worked well for them on the desktop, but to think the market dynamics online are the same as for shrink-wrapped software, and therefore require the same approach to marketing and development, they're really in over their heads.

As we've all said already, Microsoft should focus its efforts on actually producing decent operating systems and office suite software that people want to use. You know, their [i]core business![/i]

But what would I know, I'm running FreeBSD ;-)

[sokorie]

Apples and Oranges

Your analysis of GM making Hairspay is a bad analogy to Microsoft entering the online advertising market .absolutely nonsence , no correlation whatsoever . Microsoft is an IT company involves all facets of information Technology. what's wrong with them diversifying their business > nothing . Microsoft is the most valued company in information technology industry . No other company is close , not Cisco , not Google , not Apple . Just look at the facts , anyway you want , by sales , by revenue , by profit , by stock market value .
And I predict this is not going to change in your lifetime . so deal with with it .
They have the right to diversify and pursue other goals and reward shareholders. No business should be immune from this .MSFT is an american success story

[Jim Harmon]

Yet another "fluff" piece

This is yet another example of a press release being disguised as news.