AdCenter Taking Shape

Microsoft has been tinkering with adCenter overseas in preparation for its full U.S. rollout. The company's offshore adLab (Beijing) 50 researchers working on AdCenter technologies, with considerable focus on behavioral marketing.

Microsoft is data mining search data to find the difference between genders to offer advertisers audiences that are more likely to click.

The company is pursuing technology for consumers to click on items during a live video stream to find more information, such as where to buy clothes featured by celebs. This idea has been around for at least a decade (back when the "i-commerce" companies were reaping in the VC cash), so good luck. Product placement is becoming more obvious in TV and movies, but I can't see this technology ever becoming more than a small niche.

AdCenter will also provide an option so that advertisers can select a window of the day that there ads will be seen. So it will be Starbucks from 6-10, Taco Bell from 10-2, Rolaids from 2-6, Moviefone from 6-10, Budweiser from 10-2, and Doritos from 2-6.