Microsoft trialling new program that could rival AdSense

18th July 2008

Microsoft may be set to take on Google's popular AdSense program with the trial of its own contextual advertising platform.

The company is utilising its adCenter technology to deploy self-serve contextual ads to small publishers as part of a trial that began earlier this year, according to TechCrunch.

Microsoft could reap significant rewards from a full launch of such a program if it was to pay out bigger fees than those currently offered by Google, the blog speculates.

However, in a statement sent to CNET News.com, Microsoft expressed caution over the possibility of a full-scale launch.

It said: "We will evaluate customer interest and product performance as we move through the private pilot, but we have no specific launch plans to announce at this time."

The news comes shortly after Microsoft agreed to provide paid search and contextual advertising to US health media company Rodale on sites such as MensHealth.com and Prevention.com.