Two years late and gazillions of dollars already lost, Microsoft hops into the contextual Web search ad game today, one crafted to perfection by arch-rival Google’s AdSense.
The biggest loser in this development may be Yahoo, which up until now had been providing the search-related ads on MSN. Microsoft thinks it’s got a shot at unseating Google – and Yahoo – because of its ability to “direct ads to viewers according to demographic characteristics, as well as by the day and time the ad is shown.”
Notes the New York Times: “The move is part of Microsoft’s broad response to the threat from Google, which is using its powerful advertising sales network to support an expanding range of free software products and Internet services.”
Other moves in Redmond’s “broad response” include calling Eric Schmidt names, yelling at employees who try to defect to Google and, of course, tossing around office furniture.
Via Drudge
