Microsoft Highlights Breadth in Mobile Advertising at advance08

Company announces display advertising on Windows Live for mobile services,
search advertising in beta on Live Search Mobile.

REDMOND, Wash., May 20 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Today at Microsoft
Corp.'s online advertising leadership forum, advance08, Brian McAndrews,
senior vice president of the Advertiser & Publisher Solutions Group, announced
the availability of display advertising across two popular Windows Live for
mobile services, the launch of new markets for Windows Live for mobile
services, and upcoming advertising plans for its Live Search Mobile offering.
This marks the first year that mobile advertising has played a leading role at
the industry event that brings together some of the most influential thought
leaders of the global advertising community.
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Announced today, advertisers can now extend their campaigns to social
media through Windows Live for mobile in France, Spain, the U.K. and the U.S.
by creating banner ads that will be visible across Windows Live Messenger and
Windows Live Hotmail. This builds upon Microsoft's initial launch of mobile
advertising for MSN Mobile in France, Spain, the U.K. and the U.S. where
mobile ads are available alongside premium MSN Mobile content. Advertising on
Windows Live for mobile is already available in Spain, and later this month
will be available in Germany, Italy and the Netherlands, further extending its
availability for advertisers. All ads placed on these two popular services
will adhere to Mobile Marketing Association (MMA) guidelines.
"In today's connected world, the mobile device is emerging as a prime
opportunity for advertisers to reach their audience," said Brian Arbogast,
corporate vice president of Mobile Services at Microsoft. "This announcement
is evidence of our commitment to providing advertisers with further
opportunities to connect and engage consumers throughout their 'digital day'
-- at home, at work and on the go across multiple platforms, devices and
geographic regions."
"FedEx is committed to servicing our customers across mobile devices and
creating awareness of our mobile applications so we can service them anytime,
anywhere," said Steve Pacheco, director of advertising at FedEx. "As we
profile our innovative application, mobile.fedex.com, working with emerging
media platforms allows us to communicate broadly with our customer base."
Microsoft also announced plans to further expand its mobile offerings for
advertisers to now include mobile search advertisements on Live Search Mobile.
For the first time invited advertisers can create keyword campaigns through
Microsoft adCenter that target customers on the go while they are using Live
Search Mobile. This will be the first time that Microsoft has enabled
advertisers to monetize its popular mobile search service. The beta is
currently available in the U.S. and will be expanded in the second half of
2008.
Microsoft also announced that it has more than doubled its market
availability for Windows Live for mobile from 22 markets to 49. Windows Live
for mobile provides the company's 430 million Windows Live customers with
mobile access to Windows Live Hotmail, Windows Live Messenger and Windows Live
Spaces from almost all Web-enabled mobile handsets.
Today's announcement further demonstrates the momentum Microsoft is making
in the mobile advertising market since its acquisition of ScreenTonic SA in
May 2007. Those interested in trying out Microsoft's mobile Web services such
as Windows Live for mobile, MSN Mobile and Live Search Mobile can visit
http://www.mobile.msn.com from a mobile device with an Internet browser.
Advertisers who want more information on how to advertise on MSN or Windows
Live for mobile can go to http://advertising.microsoft.com.
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq: MSFT) is the worldwide leader in
software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their
full potential.
SOURCE Microsoft Corp.

pr.mspx./ /CONTACT: Microsoft Advertising Team, The Red Consultancy,
+1-212-529-8472, aps@redconsultancy.com