January 13, 2006 8:17 AM PST

Microsoft demos advertising lab

Related Stories

Windows Live rooted in MSN's past

November 3, 2005

Yahoo sheds Overture brand

April 18, 2005

MSN vs. Google and Yahoo, Round 3

March 15, 2005

Google's AdWords gets API beta

January 28, 2005
Microsoft on Friday debuted its AdCenter Incubation Lab, providing a peek at some of the ad-based technologies the lab is cooking up.

As previously reported, Microsoft has been developing its AdCenter tool for more than a year. On Friday, the company demonstrated 15 of 40 prototypes during its AdCenter Demo Fest at its headquarters in Redmond, Wash.

Offering a range of distribution options, from video hyperlink ads to mobile-based ads, AdCenter is being designed to deliver more personalized ads to users. Microsoft hopes that the incubation lab--a joint effort of Microsoft Research and its MSN AdCenter--will increase advertising revenue for its Web portal.

Microsoft is currently working on 40 advertising prototypes that would work with mediums such as video, television, mobile devices and the Internet. The ads also will be designed to address paid search, behavioral targeting and contextual advertising.

The software giant touted one prototype that offers a video hyperlink ad. The technology is designed to detect products that appear in television shows or commercials and then allows viewers to click on a related image for more information such as product details or how to purchase the item.

Other technologies under research include ad barcode readers, social network mining and large-display ads.

The incubation lab will draw on work being done by the company's AdCenter group in Redmond, as well as from Microsoft Research Asia in Beijing.

Microsoft's efforts to target ads based on users' personalities and other traits mark an effort to catch up to Yahoo and Google, which have forged ahead in delivering ads based on user age, gender, hobbies and other interests.

8 comments

Join the conversation!
Add your comment (Log in or register)
Scared of google ads
evil plan's are brewing to destroy Google's Primary revenue generator.
Posted by vdesibabu (1 comment )
Reply Link Flag
what's evil??
such a narrow minded comment...
Posted by FutureGuy (736 comments )
Link Flag
Interested in google monopoly?
Competition is good. Consumers benifit.
Posted by Tanjore (322 comments )
Link Flag
Targeted ads can useful and helpful, and make lots of money
The search business is all about selling advertisements...targeted advertisements. People hate traditional advertising because it is obnoxious and irrelevant. When ads are targeted to what we are interested in...they are actually useful, helpful, and educational. The better the targeting, the better the return for advertisers, and the more that users actually "like" the ads and click on them. Everyone wins.

Advertisers will continue to demand real ROI and traceable results for their advertising dollars. Traditional media will have a hard time matching the cost effectiveness and traceable results of online advertising. Look for Google, Yahoo, and MSN to reap the rewards. We are talking billions of dollars here.

I wrote a blog on this subject today. There are lots of details on techniques for targeting ads.
<a class="jive-link-external" href="http://dondodge.typepad.com/the_next_big_thing/2006/01/microsoft_launc.html" target="_newWindow">http://dondodge.typepad.com/the_next_big_thing/2006/01/microsoft_launc.html</a>
Posted by Don_Dodge (64 comments )
Reply Link Flag
Click here to win free privacy risks!!!
Agreed. Advertising campaigns such as what Google provides are non-intrusive and relevent. If MS is proposing the same type of advertising while not exposing users to potential fraud, web advertising moves closer to standardization with less risk, and the end user benefits. I'd rather see silent advertising the middle of a Sienfeld rerun, telling me to eat a Mentos, than to have the Jerry knock on my door and try to steal my wallet or social security number.

I know I sound paranoid, but this is the effect when users visit an over developed, over budget website, relying on advertising dollars from scum. They throw popup/popunder windows at you, claiming you're so unique, or the 1 millionth visitor, and you've won a xBox 360 or iPod. While you're filling out the bs survey, some jerk on the other side of the world just emptied out your bank account.

If all web advertising moves in the direction these companies provide, a safer internet begins to develope and will become what it was intended to be. A information and communication medium, and not another loud commercial.
Posted by (8 comments )
Link Flag
Microsoft & Claria
So finally there are chances that we shall have addsupported *free* version of Windows XP/Vista

Heard quite a time back, Microsoft secret tie-up with Claria, is that true? ( part of deal is Micrsoft Anti spyware changing the threat level of Claria gain, from remove to ignore).

At that time the news may not have made significant impact, but today, it does.
Posted by (29 comments )
Reply Link Flag
we've been doing this for some time
click on the link below to see something we created for universal music

<a class="jive-link-external" href="http://coullmedia.ld.mediawave.co.uk/girlsaloud/theshow/" target="_newWindow">http://coullmedia.ld.mediawave.co.uk/girlsaloud/theshow/</a>
Posted by irfon (2 comments )
Reply Link Flag
idside
wanna watch real clickable video applications
go to www.idside.eu
video ad world?s changing!
Posted by ilanb55 (1 comment )
Reply Link Flag
 

Join the conversation

Add your comment

The posting of advertisements, profanity, or personal attacks is prohibited. Click here to review our Terms of Use.

Inside CNET News

1-2 of 12

Scroll Left Scroll Right

What's Hot

Discussions

Shared

RSS Feeds

Add headlines from CNET News to your homepage or feedreader.

Markets

Market news, charts, SEC filings, and more

Related quotes

Google (1.04%) 6.29 612.20
Yahoo (-0.12%) -0.02 16.12
Microsoft (0.28%) 0.08 30.58
Dow Jones Industrials (0.57%) 72.81 12,874.04
S&P 500 (0.68%) 9.13 1,351.77
NASDAQ (0.95%) 27.51 2,931.39
CNET TECH (0.84%) 17.13 2,049.14
  Symbol Lookup