SearchEngineUpdate with Vanessa Zamora - 02-15-2008 Part II
Abstract: 1. Google Tests Video Ads on Search Results Pages, 2. Google, Microsoft Sued Over Keyword Auction Patent, 3. Google Sees Fifty Times More Traffic From iPhones, 4. Yahoo Video Soft-Launch
Vanessa Zamora
Video Content Producer, SearchEngineWorld
10:57 pm on Feb. 15, 2008 (utc 0)
Transcript
Friday February 15, 2008
Google Tests Video Ads on Search Results Pages
Google’s standard text advertisements on search result pages will see a change as Google starts testing video advertisements, with plans to also integrate more elaborate features including advertising formats with images and interactive maps. The change comes following the adoption of universal search, introduced last year. The video ads, which for now will not cost advertisers extra to include alongside text ads, will be expandable by clicking on a plus button, and only cost an advertiser when a user clicks to see the video.
Google, Microsoft Sued Over Keyword Auction Patent
Another patent lawsuit has been filed against Microsoft and Google in the Eastern District of Texas. Paid Search Engine Tools claims Google and Microsoft violate its Paid Search Engine Bid Management patent with Google’s AdWords and Microsoft’s AdCenter advertising services. The patent describes a method "for overcoming deficiencies and inefficiencies in the current paid search engine keyword bidding market, by providing keyword bidders with information they need to better optimize their use of paid search engines. The system accumulates bid amounts for target keywords and presents the bid amounts to a user, enabling the user to evaluate and optimize bids on those keywords. The growing number of patent infringement claims has driven support of patent reform by more than 150 corporations including Google and Microsoft.
Google has reported that it is measuring fifty times more traffic from Apple iPhones than other mobile devices. The data points to the massive potential not only for mobile search, but the importance for search engines to forge partnerships with mobile carriers to provide search on mobile devices. As web access is made easier on mobile phones, some feel its likely that mobile search will outpace internet search within the next several years.
Yahoo has announced the re-launch of Yahoo Video with upgrades including a wider viewer, more content from other Yahoo properties instead of only user generated videos, support for files up to 150 megabytes, embeddable playlists and improved user profiles. Though users were hopeful the site would also integrate Flickr as part of the upgrade, making it easier to upload videos along with photos in one easy location, such was not the case.
10:57 pm on Feb. 15, 2008 (utc 0)