Posted On 05/07/06
Contributed by Frances

May has taken off with a bang in Microsoft's world, beginning with the 7th annual MSN Strategic Account Summit held this past week.

Concentrating on the push to compete against Google, the summit was structured around exploring the "convergence of multimedia content, advertising and technology in the online space", as Steve Ballmer described it in one of his speeches during the week.

It could have been just another conference, with "cultural icon" Shawn “Jay-Z” Carter around to keep the pace lively, but Microsoft chose this time to hit the decks running with renewed zeal in pursuit of their biggest competitor in the online race, Google.

Bam! Microsoft AdCenter is now officially open in the United States. No more beta. It's here and it's now. Plus, look for ads to be showing up in other Microsoft online properties such as Windows Live Mail, Windows Live Spaces, Windows Live Safety Center, Windows Live for Mobile, Office Live and Office Online, and the Xbox® website at Xbox.com.

Bam! MSN Originals will, via a partnership with Reveille (who brought us "The Office" and "The Biggest Loser" on TV), bring original content to MSN that is also interactive, along with a component aimed at the DIY female audience. More opportunities for advertisers here.

Bam! MSN is the place to go if you want to see any of the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival online. They've got that one tied up.

Bam! Microsoft announces the acquisition of Vexcel, an imaging and remote sensing technology company to beef up its rival to Google Earth - Microsoft's Virtual Earth.

Bam! Windows Live Local now has a website where you can find out where 8 current celebrities live and hang out. No need to buy that map on your way to Hollywood anymore.

Bam! Microsoft officially announces the acquisition of Massive, a company that will help integrate advertising into video games.

Semi-Bam! Rumors have started again that Microsoft may be courting Yahoo! in a plan to join together to defeat the Google giant.

We've known Microsoft was heading towards a move against Google and looks like the machine is beginning its roll towards that end. So many new opportunities for advertisers online, but I wonder if the users of MSN/Windows Live! are going to be thrilled to see ads multiplying like the proverbial rabbits on every available Microsoft website.

By the way, did you know that the average (or as the Microsoft website spells it "Avgerage" - is that some new Microsoft-only language?) employee of Microsoft in the United States is 36 years old (only 19% are under 30 years of age). Interesting.