Microsoft and Facebook Partner on Advertising Syndication

WebKnowHow
Wednesday, August 23, 2006; 02:46 AM

Online social network Facebook and Microsoft Corp. announced a strategic alliance in which the two companies will collaborate to bring relevant advertising to the more than 9 million registered users of Facebook.

As part of the relationship, Microsoft will be the exclusive provider of banner advertising and sponsored links on Facebook using its digital advertising solutions and the Microsoft adCenter platform. The two companies also agreed to work together on future technology and advertising initiatives.

“Our collaboration with Facebook is about joining our cutting-edge advertising technology and sales force with a true innovator in social networking,” said Steve Berkowitz, senior vice president of the Online Services Group at Microsoft. “We believe that the combination of Microsoft and Facebook strengths will be incredibly attractive to advertisers as they forge more meaningful connections with one of the largest, most engaged audiences on the Internet. The consumer assets brought to bear by this relationship will be very hard to match.”

The companies said they will attempt to connect advertisers with Facebook users in more relevant, innovative ways through a combination of graphical ad placements, as well as automated text-based advertisements targeted to content and, over time, aggregate user behavior on an anonymous basis.

The two companies expect the new advertising experiences to appear in the early fall.