Ask.com has upgraded it search technology to include structure data according to post on the New York Times Bits Blog. Structured data is currently provided for categories including entertainment, health & nutrition, jobs and reference, with expansion into more categories this year according to Ask.com press release. The inclusion of structured data allows for information to be provided directly in the search results, for example a search for a television show displays local air times for that show. The site also attempts to parse and display answers to question asked directly on the search results page (including using user generated question-and-answer sites such as Yahoo Answers and WikiAnswers), similar to the way the original Ask.com was supposed to work. According to the Bits Blog, Ask.com CEO Jim Safka claimed that the new Ask.com “returns more relevant results for common queries than in the past” and in CNET News article Ask.com president Scott Garrell claimed that the new version is “30 percent faster” than the previous version.
Delay Announced for Google-Yahoo Partnership
Google and Yahoo have announced that they have delayed the implementation of their search advertising partnership according to a article by Advertising Age. The partnership was to begin in early October, but will now not start until the U.S. Justice Department has concluded its review of the deal. There is no set date for the Justice Department to finish its review. Advertising Age also reported Google and Justice Department employees have been having informal talks for the last week.
Microsoft Plans 3 New Research Labs Focused on Internet Search
Microsoft plans to open three new research labs in Europe that will be focused on Internet search according a article by the New York Times. The labs will in be London, Munich, and near Paris and will employ several hundred people. At news conference Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer said that the labs would work on improving on existing search technology and work on new types of search, including searches from mobile devices and searches involving pictures and video.
Google Blog Search Gets Google News Like Makeover
A post on the Official Google Blog announced a new look for the homepage of Google Blog Search. The old homepage consisted of a search box, while the new homepage has look similar to Google News. Stories and events receiving significant blog coverage will be displayed for 12 different categories, with blog posts about those topics clustered so that, according to Google, you can “see the best posts on a story or get a variety of perspectives.” The new look is only available in English now, but Google says that support for more languages and new features are coming in the next few months.
Microsoft Launches New Rewards Program for Live Search
Microsoft has launched a new rewards program for Live Search according to a article by CNET News. The program, called SearchPerks, gives “tickets” to users of Microsoft’s Live Search search engine that can be redeemed for prizes or a donation to a charity. For each search a participant in the program receives one ticket, with a maximum of 25 per day. Participants receive 500 tickets for signing up for the program. The prize that can redeemed for the lowest amount of tickets is a ringtone for 105 tickets and the prize require the most amount of ticket is a Xbox 360 Wireless Controller for Windows for 5500 tickets. The program is schedule to run through April 15, 2009, allowing a participant to accrue a maximum of 5425 tickets, falling short of what would be required for the Xbox 360 Wireless Controller. The program is limited to up to one million U.S. residents and requires using Internet Explorer 6 or above, the Windows operating system, and installing a toolbar. Microsoft has run a number of programs tied to using Live Search including Live Search Club, Search and Give, and Live Search Cashback.
Google Starts New Website as Part of Defense of Yahoo Partnership
Google has created a new website, yahoogooglefacts.com (which redirects to http://www.google.com/yahoogooglefacts/), to provide information about the planned Google-Yahoo search advertising partnership. In a post on the Google Public Policy Blog, Google said the website is intended “to provide more information on the agreement and why it is good for consumers, advertisers and website publishers.” The site includes a slide show about the partnership, answers to various question about the deal, quotes from supporters of the partnership, and a video of Google’s Chief Legal Officer David Drummond testimony before the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee. Google has recently step up its effort to publicly defend the partnership, including challenging a report that the partnership would mean higher prices for advertisers.
Yahoo Announces Launch of Updated Advertising Platform
Yahoo has announced the launch of its new ad platform APT according to an article by the New York Times. APT, previously named Apex and AMP, is designed to simplify ad purchasing, by making it possible for advertisers to make purchases across a wide range of sites with one purchase. The platform also uses geographic, demographic and interest-based targeting to help advertisers to reach specific audiences. The platform is currently being tested on the San Jose Mercury News and The San Francisco Chronicle websites and the platform will expand to rest of Yahoo’s partners in its Newspaper Consortium later this year. The platform will open to advertisers, agencies and advertising networks in 2009.
eMarketer Projects Slower Growth in U.S. Online Advertising in 2009
eMarketer projects the growth in U.S. online advertising will slow in 2009 according to a article by Adweek. Spending in 2008 is projected to be 24.9 billion dollars, an increase of 17.5 percent, and spending in 2009 is projected to be 28.5 billion dollars, an increase of 14.4 percent. Spending is projected to again grow 17.5 percent in 2010, reaching 33.5 billion dollars. The projected growth is expected to exceed 20 percent, for the first time since 2007, in 2011 with spending projected to be 40.5 billion dollars.
WordPress Developer Automattic Acquires Enhanced Commenting Tool
The developer of WordPress, Automattic, has acquired enhanced comment tool IntenseDebate according a article by CNET News. IntenseDebate replaces a blogs standard comment system with a system that allows for email replies, reputation, ranking, and centralized control across several sites. The tool will likely be integrated into self-hosted and WordPress.com hosted WordPress blogs in the near future. The co-founder of IntenseDebate, Jon Fox, told CNET News that the tool would continue to support other blogging platforms including Blogger and MovableType.
AOL’s Platform-A Launching Ad Exchange in 2009
AOL’s Platform-A announced that they would be launching BidPlace, a self-service ad exchange, in the first half of 2009. The exchange will support cost per thousand (CPM), cost per click (CPC) and cost per action (CPA) bidding for advertising on AOL, on select partner sites and on Platform-A’s third-party network. These sites reach 90% of the online audience according to an August 2008 comScore Media Metrix report. According to Platform A the exchange will provide an automated interface that “will let advertisers create and manage their campaigns, define budgets, pricing, targeting and the frequency of their ad placements” and that “advertisers will receive detailed reporting on campaign and creative performance.”