Tuesday, September 26, 2006
Microsoft to Offer Advertising On... Everything, Including Windows Mobile?
Posted by Janak Parekh in "NEWS" @ 09:00 AM
"At Advertising Week 2006, Microsoft Corp. will announce the worldwide launch of Microsoft® Digital Advertising Solutions in a move that combines the company’s broad set of global advertising products and services into a unified offering for advertisers. Microsoft Digital Advertising Solutions is designed to connect advertisers with their target audiences across such devices as PCs, Xbox® video game systems, Web-enabled mobile phones and personal digital assistants (PDAs)."
The PR reads just like any PR at first, until you realize what Microsoft is doing: they're building integrated advertising vehicles to all of our Microsoft-branded consumer solutions, be it PC, Xbox, Office, MSN, Windows Live, Windows Mobile, Microsoft TV, etc.. Now, I understand the basic idea -- integrate the advertising mechanism behind one program -- and this makes sense for things like MSN or Live, which are free content that are ad-supported. But the other possibilities worry me tremendously. What does Microsoft say for ads on Windows Mobile?
"Let your target audience know about your hot new products by sending interactive image or text ads right to their wireless devices. Look for information about the wide range of future advertising options available through Windows Mobile."
8O
I'll say this: if this service isn't opt-in, I will be very one unhappy camper. Let's hope Microsoft is planning this carefully and doing their best not to alienate their loyal customers who are giving them money via Windows Mobile licenses. Unfortunately, there are no more details on this particular advertising venue; we'll just have to sit and wait and see what they have in store.
The PR reads just like any PR at first, until you realize what Microsoft is doing: they're building integrated advertising vehicles to all of our Microsoft-branded consumer solutions, be it PC, Xbox, Office, MSN, Windows Live, Windows Mobile, Microsoft TV, etc.. Now, I understand the basic idea -- integrate the advertising mechanism behind one program -- and this makes sense for things like MSN or Live, which are free content that are ad-supported. But the other possibilities worry me tremendously. What does Microsoft say for ads on Windows Mobile?
"Let your target audience know about your hot new products by sending interactive image or text ads right to their wireless devices. Look for information about the wide range of future advertising options available through Windows Mobile."
8O
I'll say this: if this service isn't opt-in, I will be very one unhappy camper. Let's hope Microsoft is planning this carefully and doing their best not to alienate their loyal customers who are giving them money via Windows Mobile licenses. Unfortunately, there are no more details on this particular advertising venue; we'll just have to sit and wait and see what they have in store.
