Microsoft and Google both were in talks about a search and advertising partnership with America Online (AOL). Google has agreed to invest US$1 billion in change for a 5% marketshare in AOL. With this agreement Google will continue to provide the search technology to AOL.
The agreement’s broad range of new features for users and advertisers include:
- Creating an AOL Marketplace through white labeling of Google’s advertising technology – enabling AOL to sell search advertising directly to advertisers on AOL-owned properties;
- Expanding display advertising throughout the Google network;
- Making AOL content more accessible to Google Web crawlers;
- Collaborating in video search and showcasing AOL’s premium video service within Google Video;
- Enabling Google Talk and AIM instant messaging users to communicate with each other, provided certain conditions are met; and Providing AOL marketing credits for its Internet properties.
I guess these talks started a bit too early for MSN, who is still beta testing their advertising software.
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