UPDATE 1-Publicis, Dassault Systemes in 3D online venture

(Adds comments by Publicis, Dassault CEO from news conference)

By Dominique Vidalon

PARIS, June 28 (Reuters) - French advertising group Publicis (PUBP.PA) and software group Dassault Systemes (DAST.PA) will create a joint venture in 3D online marketing in a bid to boost advertising sales, the two companies said on Thursday.

The Paris-based venture named 3dswym -- an acronym for 3DSee What You Mean -- will be 51 percent owned by Publicis and 49 percent by Dassault Systemes and will allow marketers to reach consumers directly and to create and adapt new consumer goods together, the joint statement said.

Publicis is making a push into digital advertising, which is growing faster than traditional advertising.

Publicis Chairman and Chief Executive Maurice Levy told a news conference it was difficult to quantify the venture's potential revenue.

But if it took "just a little piece" of a global market estimated at over $50 billion "we would not be unhappy", he said.

Publicis recently acquired U.S. interactive and direct marketing company Digitas for $1.3 billion and earlier this month announced the purchase of a 49 percent stake in interactive marketing agency Business Interactif BUSI.PA.

The Digitas buy created "a tsunami" in online advertising, sparking a flurry of large deals in the sector, Levy said.

Recent deals included Microsoft's $6 billion purchase of aQuantive Inc. AQNT.O and Google Inc.'s (GOOG.O) takeover of DoubleClick Inc.

The Publicis-Dassault virtual service allows consumers to redesign a product by redefining its form or its colours and then viewing the result in three dimensions, for example on a supermarket shelf or at home.

This allows marketers to gain time and reduce costs when trying to better match their products to the needs of consumers.

The venture, which will be funded by fees paid by clients for the service, is aimed in particular at clients of both companies, which include consumer goods giant Procter & Gamble (PG.N).

The announcement follows Tuesday's launch by Dassault Systemes of 3DVIA, a platform that will enable consumer and professional users to access three-dimensional services online.

((Editing by David Holmes/Sue Thomas; Reuters Messaging: rm://dominique.vidalon.reuters.com@reuters.net; email: dominique.vidalon@reuters.com; Telephone: +33 1 49495432)) Keywords: PUBLICIS DASSAULT/

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