Technology, Culture, Commentary on the Internet Revolution

Microsoft on Ads: Hellbent Pussies

by Mike Abundo on August 7th, 2007

A while back, I said Microsoft buying ad network aQuantive and ad exchange AdECN proves that the boys at Redmond are hellbent on competing with Google in online advertising. Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer confirms it exactly.

We are hellbent and determined to allocate the talent, the resources, the money, the innovation to absolutely become a powerhouse in the ad business.

Recall that Ballmer once called Google CEO Eric Schmidt “a fucking pussy” during his famous chair-throwing tirade, promising to “fucking bury that guy.” Here’s my advice to that perennially jacked-up ex-jock Steve-o: the hellbent don’t go halfway. I advertised with Microsoft in the late ’90’s through their old LinkExchange display advertising service, and I remember getting a pretty decent CTR for the pre-AdSense era. By comparison, Microsoft’s current online advertising efforts are more half-assed than hellbent. Putting ads in crippled old crapware like Microsoft Works, restricting Microsoft adCenter to selected publishers — now that’s just being a fucking pussy.

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POSTED IN: Advertising, Microsoft