Microsoft and "creepy behavioral analytics"

["Richard M. Smith" <rms () computerbytesman com>]

( <http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/exec/ozzie/default.mspx> Ray Ozzie on
stage now, saying that the "pendulum is swinging once more," in the Web vs
PC world. The "vs." is the Web, openness and "creepy behavioral analytics,"
vs. freedom and openness. Did he really say that? Yes, but at the same time
he's pushing the flexibility of the Web and talking about the "power of
browser extensions" and the growth of rich internet applications.)
 

Microsoft to buy Aquantive for $6 billion

http://news.com.com/Microsoft+to+buy+Aquantive+for+6+billion/2100-1030_3-618
4778.html?tag=nefd.top

just in In a bid to boost its presence in advertising, Microsoft said Friday
that it will acquire Aquantive, a digital marketing and services company, in
a deal worth $6 billion. 


Microsoft said the deal will help it
<http://news.com.com/Gates+makes+case+for+Microsofts+ad+business/2100-1014_3
-6182120.html> support more-advanced advertising products and technologies
across areas including media planning, video on demand and IPTV. Aquantive
produces the Atlas Media Console and Drive PM tools for advertisers and
publishers, and owns interactive ad agency Avenue A/Razorfish.

"The advertising industry is evolving and growing at an incredible pace,
moving increasingly toward online and IP-served platforms, which
dramatically increases the importance of software for this industry,"
Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer said in a statement. "Today's announcement
represents the next step in the evolution of our ad network from our initial
investment in MSN, to the broader Microsoft network including Xbox Live,
Windows Live and Office Live, and now to the full capacity of the Internet."

Microsoft said it will pay $66.50 per share for Aquantive, an 85 percent
premium over its Thursday closing price of $35.87.

Earlier this week, ad giant WPP Group said it will
<http://news.com.com/Ad+giant+to+scoop+up+247+Real+Media/2100-1024_3-6184587
.html> spend $649 million to buy digital marketer 24/7 Real Media, a company
Microsoft had recently been rumored to be interested in. Last month, Google
announced plans to
<http://news.com.com/Google+buys+ad+firm+DoubleClick+for+3.1+billion/2100-10
24_3-6176079.html> acquire digital advertising company DoubleClick for $3.1
billion.

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