SearchEngineUpdate with Vanessa Zamora - 03-19-2008 Part II
Abstract: 1. Facebook Plans New Privacy Controls, Adds Online Chat, 2. eMarketer Report: Online Ad Spend To Rise 23 Percent In 2008, 3. Microsoft Expands Office Communications Server Strategy
Vanessa Zamora
Video Content Producer, SearchEngineWorld
9:23 pm on Mar. 19, 2008 (utc 0)
Transcript
Wednesday March 19, 2008
Facebook Plans New Privacy Controls, Adds Online Chat
Social networking site Facebook has come under fire twice recently regarding two features that many users felt highlighted private information by bringing it to the forefront of Facebook friends view. In an attempt to rectify past criticism, starting Wednesday, Facebook plans to roll out a new privacy feature for its more than 67 million users that will provide the ability to control who sees what data stored in Facebook profile pages by separating friends into lists with different levels of access available for family members, co-workers and friends. Along with the new privacy feature, Facebook confirmed its plan to roll out its own Web-based chat software in the coming weeks.
eMarketer Report: Online Ad Spend To Rise 23 Percent In 2008
A new report by eMarketer reveals online advertising spending will rise by a healthy 23% in 2008, falling short of an earlier forecast, but maintaining growth despite concerns over the economy. Another reason given for the forecast drop in spending is the failure of social networking and other user generated content sites to leverage their popularity into ad dollars. The ability to measure the performance of advertisements online more effectively, with a growing number of target audiences moving to the Web, is said to be the reason ad spending will continue to grow. Additional eMarketer projections include search, which it projects will account for the largest amount of ad spending at 40%, with rich media and video expected to show continued growth. Display advertising will likely remain flat in 2008, coming in 21.1 percent, the same as last year, according to the eMarketer report.
Microsoft Expands Office Communications Server Strategy
Microsoft intensifies its efforts to turn its Office Communications Server into a real software platform for business collaboration by announcing partnerships in the videoconferencing and contact center technology markets. To unify previously separate communication systems including email, phone systems, and video conferencing applications, into one compact easy to manage package for businesses, Microsoft has invested in Aspect, a maker of telecommunications software that routes business telephone calls. In turn, Aspect and partners Polycom and Tandberg are expected to start releasing versions of products that work with Microsoft’s Office Communications Server. Microsoft next hopes to enlist support from makers of telecommunications equipment, which it says will be key to breaking into the area.
9:23 pm on Mar. 19, 2008 (utc 0)