Microsoft officially announces its own advertising network

MOVE HEATS UP RIVALRY WITH GOOGLE AND YAHOO

Stepping up its efforts to compete directly with Google and Yahoo, Microsoft's Internet division said Tuesday that it plans to enter the lucrative search-engine-advertising business.

Microsoft said it is building its own advertising network to display ads alongside its search-engine results.

Microsoft is being conservative in its roll-out of the new system, dubbed ``MSN adCenter.'' The company will launch a pilot of the program in France and Singapore in the next six months, said Adam Sohn, director of global sales and marketing. He gave no timeline for a U.S. launch.

SOURCE: Mercury News