Jim Spanfeller, President and CEO of Forbes.com, who also happens to be treasurer of the Online Publishers Association and Chairman Emeritus of the Interactive Advertising Bureau spoke his mind on the state of the online advertising industry in a guest post at PaidContent.org.
Newspaper Thinks Web Presence Would Hurt Business
You often hear that print is on its way out as more people realize that the web is a cheaper and more accessible option to get information. Many newspapers have put more energy into their web presences, often offering a wider variety of rich content that wouldn’t be possible in print form in the first place – things like podcasts and online video.
German Politician Thinks Better Of Blocking Wikipedia
German Left Party politician Lutz Heilmann didn’t like some of the claims printed in a Wikipedia article about him. As a result, Heilmann filed an injunction against the German version of the site, caused a massive outcry, and has now backed down in the face of all the attention.
Cuil Search Thinks Knowledge Is Cool
The new search engine, named after an Irish word for knowledge, claims a bigger index and better relevance than competitors makes it a better search solution.
GMail Thinks My Google Alerts Are Spam
I didn’t notice when I stopped receiving my Google Alerts. It’s one of those things you pass over until one day you’re all "why didn’t I get something on this?" I assumed my subscription had run out and I’d have to set them up again – which I found to be very annoying.
The World Thinks Google’s Big Brother
There’s a lot of buzzing in the blogosphere right now (you can read Jordan’s coverage here), as it appears Google is under fire again for its privacy policies. AP reports that London-based Privacy International has issued a study of 23 internet companies, with Google coming out dead-last. In fact no other company studied, received the same low rating.
MySpace Thinks It Owns ‘Space’ and ‘Place’ Names
If you’re thinking of setting up a new business with any combination of the words "my" "place" or "space" in the name of it, be aware that MySpace will most likely file against you at the US Patent and Trademark Office.
Local Mapping Service Thinks Globally
PublicRoutes.com, a search engine for public transportation directions has expanded its service to include London. The London launch marks the first time a company has offered directions for public transportation in more than one country.
The site offers users point-to-point directions and covers all forms of transportation. It also offers directions to a city’s main attractions such as restaurants, sporting venues and nightlife spots along with the option to book hotels and flight reservations.
Microsoft Exec Thinks DoubleClick Buy Is Risky
That Microsoft is thinking of acquiring online advertising company DoubleClick has been the gently vibrating buzz all week. A Microsoft executive, though, says a deal is unlikely.
The buzz seems likely generated by the PR machine, for as soon as I heard about it from a surprising tipster, everybody else seemed to have heard about it as well, bloggers and reporters alike. Let the speculation begin: nothing like a little buzz to justify a $2 billion asking price.
Skype Thinks Twice The Price Is Nice
EBay’s Skype may be taking a page out of Microsoft’s playbook. The VoIP company released a new product yesterday that seems awfully familiar, at twice the price.
The beta version of Skype Prime, part of Skype 3.1 for Windows, a widget that allows Skype users to become online, on-call experts.
For example, if you’re a business consultant of some kind, you can set up a hotline for people to call you for advice and guidance in your area of expertise. Experts can charge per minute or per call.