This one flew under my radar, but Microsoft announced earlier this month that it is scrapping an effort to develop a general purpose Web analytics program.
In a blog posting, Microsoft said it is closing the beta of Microsoft AdCenter Analytics.
"The insights you've contributed through your feedback and your use of the tool have served an invaluable purpose in shaping Microsoft's future in this space," Microsoft said in the March 12 blog posting. "You've helped us work towards making an informed decision about building a general Web analytics solution, and despite the end of life plan, the beta was very much a success. It enabled us to confidently determine that we can be of most value to advertisers and publishers by offering a tailored solution that meets more specialized needs."
Those already in the beta will be able to continue using the tool until December 31.
"We recommend that you use the coming months to evaluate your Web analytics needs and leverage that information to conduct a search for an alternative Web analytics solution," Microsoft said. The software maker has posted a list of alternatives that includes Google Analytics, Yahoo Web Analytics, and Omniture.
Although Microsoft announced layoffs and other cost cuts in January, the company has axed relatively few products. Among the products it has scrapped in recent months are Windows Live OneCare and PerformancePoint Server, a business intelligence product.
Are there any other products that have been cut that I should know about? If so, drop me a line.
Updated 5:20 p.m. PDT with Microsoft confirmation.
Microsoft is ready to start expanding its AdCenter engine to allow at least some publishers to include contextual advertising from Microsoft on their site.
According to a letter detailing the program and published on TechCrunch, Microsoft is doing a pilot program that allows smaller publishers to use contextual advertising from Microsoft, putting it potentially in competition with Google's AdSense and Yahoo's publisher network.
In a statement provided to CNET News on Thursday, Microsoft confirmed the trial.
"Microsoft's self-serve advertising offering for publishers is still under development and is currently in a private pilot phase, being tested by select publishers who met the participation requirements," Microsoft said. "The private pilot phase began earlier this year."
Microsoft pointed publishers interested in the pilot to sign up for the trial.
"It's our intention to continue to expand our high quality network and relevant audience gradually and intelligently over time for our advertisers," Microsoft said. "We will evaluate customer interest and product performance as we move through the private pilot, but we have no specific launch plans to announce at this time."
Microsoft has already struck deals with larger publishers to use its contextual advertising, most recently with Rodale.
Amusingly, the letter posted to TechCrunch talks about participants in the program needing to sign a confidentiality agreement and not blog about the program. However the letter itself provided some details ahead of any such agreement, a decision I'm sure Microsoft now regrets.
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