“Microsoft is planning a pilot program to test ads on Zune Social, the social-networking site connected to its Zune music software and devices. In a limited way, it will also test the concept of ads on the Zune devices themselves. The initiative is expected to be announced today at the company’s advance08 advertising conference in Redmond,” Todd Bishop reports for The Seattle Post-Intelligencer.
“It’s one of the first projects to emerge from an advertising business group established inside Microsoft’s Entertainment and Devices Division, working quietly behind the scenes since last fall,” Bishop reports.
“It’s one of the ways that Microsoft is trying to expand its footprint beyond standard online display ads and Internet search ads, where the company has struggled to gain ground against Google,” Bishop reports.
Bishop reports, “Mark Kroese, the group’s general manager, was quick to acknowledge that the concept of advertising on a portable media player might raise eyebrows for people when they first hear about it. (It would probably border on sacrilege for iPod users.) …’We’re thinking about the integrity of the user experience, and the appropriate way of doing this, where it feels like there’s value exchange, as opposed to, ‘Oh, this is just ads,” he said.”
“The Zune Social pilot [is] an example of how the group is approaching the idea of advertising within Entertainment and Devices, which also includes the Xbox 360, Xbox Live, Microsoft Surface, and Windows Mobile software,” Bishop reports.
“The Zune Social advertising pilot is set to launch this summer,” Bishop reports.
Full article here.
If a bear zunes in the woods, but there’s no one there to smell it, what’s the CPM?
Of course, if you’re trying to reach some of the world’s worst decision makers, obese purveyors of bad tats, store shelf dust mites, and egg-ducker’s 85-year-old uncle, you’ve found your advertising vehicle in the Zune.
It’s no wonder Microsoft continually gets its collective ass handed to it by Google in the ad game; they have absolutely no idea what they’re doing.
Because this test alone, Microsoft’s going to lose half of their Zune user base; all six of them.
We’re beginning to think that Zune exists only to assuage Melinda by supplanting Bob™ as the most-botched Microsoft product ever.
I think this is just a way for MS to infiltrate advertising into all aspects of the digital lifestyle. [this period brought to you by Tampax] I guess it means that the 10 Zune users will be listening to a bunch of those subscription songs and will get adds just like on the radio…fantastic ! [this exclamation mark brought to you by Ford, come see your Ford dealer today to get a sweet deal on our latest models, you can also see some of our cars as well]. I mean, what’s MS next ploy advertising on forums? [this question mark brought to you by Microsoft, cause we don’t know what we are doing, and you should not either]
As Balmer should be saying: Marketers! Marketers! Marketers! [this new paragraph brought to you by Niagara, the only effective cure to Viagara overdose. They don’t call it the falls for nothing. If you are worried about being too big, too hard for too long, take Niagara…we know how to make you a microsoftie].
@Wade
I knew there was something that was supposed to kill them but I couldn’t remember the name. Thanks for the tip. I Googles “stop Safari pop-unders” and found no reference to this solution (I guess they need some SEO work).
That said, MDN practices should not require its readers to go scrambling for 3rd party software to protect them from this intrusive, and abusive form of advertising. Banners, skyscrappers, tile, boomboxes, interstitials, and roadblocks are all forms of advertising that I can accept and even value. I know it takes time and money to keep a site like MDN running. I don’t begrudge the advertising, I begrudge the spewing of buried windows– especially the truly abusive audio versions. MDN can make a decision tomorrow to show their readership a modicum of respect and turn them off.
“…and the appropriate way of doing this, where it feels like there’s value exchange”
Can someone tell me what value I get out of this so-called exchange?
I want to hear a song,,,but it is prefaced by…”Itchy Crotch? Buy our anti-yeast infection product” or if I want to watch a video, I get….”If you are not using Metamucil, you will get cancer and DIE!”
Its enough to liquify one’s colon…..
I use Safari v 3.1.1 and I see a pop under appear and disappear almost instantly once in a while. Is that what you are complaining about? Or do yours actually stay there?
The only setting I have enabled is the simple “Block Pop-Up Windows” from the Safari pull down menu.
Hey, Draven, thanks for the Ren and Stimpy flashback.
On topic:
Ads on a social website? Meh.
Ads on my personal music player? I’d hurl the thing off an overpass into the Mississippi. Clearly, the marketing people have taken over at Microsoft, and they ain’t just working in the background.
More Zunes would sell if the MicroSoft was dropped from the product name. I mean it would sell better if consumers did not know that M$ made it. I used one the other day and the music sounded the same. The interface did suck compared to an iPod.
@Macintosh
Yes, I have Safari’s “Block Pop-Up Windows” selected and it used to function fine. But advertisers have learned how to get around this with Pop-unders. Everytime I visit MDN I get at least two pop-unders that stay there, and recently they’ve begun talking at me.
BUT… I just installed PithHelmet
http://culater.net/software/PithHelmet/PithHelmet.php
per Wade’s suggestion and it works! Just came back and no pop-ups or unders. Bless you, Wade (and PithHelmet)!
My previous comments to MDN still stand.
I can see Microsoft’s come back now
Zune: Hi Im a Zune
iPod: And Im an iPod
Zune: So iPod what are you up to?
iPod: Just buying some songs from iTunes, you?
Zune: Buying NBC programming, and then Im going to wirelessly sync it to my zune! Then Im going to let my friend borrow my song for 3 days, only to realize its gone!
iPod: Good luck Zune
Zune: You need the luck, pal!!!!!
iPod: I think Im going for a jog with my Nike +
Zune: IM COMPATIBLE WITH VISTA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Amen Spark. MDN is the worst advertising offender I visit. Those pop ups they keep finding ways to push through are really offensive. El Jobso would do it. Is Egg Ducker stuff.
I meant to say Mr. Jobs would never do it.
Once again Microsoft innovates, and Apple is left to wonder what hit them. Ads are the Zune’s killer feature that will destroy the junky I-Pod once and for all. I don’t know why Apple even tries.
FM, Squirting, Points and now Ads. Apple has no answer to these brilliant and revolutionary features that puts Zune head and shoulders above the rest. I salute you, Microsoft, for a job well done. I didn’t know I needed ads until you made them ubiquitous and user friendly. Great job!
Your potential. Our passion.™
“Can someone tell me what value I get out of this so-called exchange?”
I gotta admit, I’m vaguely curious about this.
One of the things about advertising in searches is that I’m looking for information anyway and if the advertising is some way related to what I’m looking for, it’s helpful. When it isn’t, it’s either funny or annoying, depending on the advertising.
(For example, if I’m searching for hotels in San Francisco, I don’t really care if someone paid for the link to the hotel website or not. As an alternate example, awhile back I was searching for a bike shop and I got a link to a site selling wedding dresses. My first thought: “For people who love their bikes…a little too much.”
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Now, I’m not mister creativity, granted. But I’m really not sure how you would sell ads on a music player. Obviously, they would be related to music, so I could sort of see a “If you like Panic at the Disco, check out the new release from Paramore.”–much like iTunes’ Store View except on the player.
Maybe concerts? While listening to Paramore or Jack’s Mannequin, “Paramore will be appearing with Jack’s Mannequin in your hometown on July 30th. Get your tickets at ticketmaster.com!”
Those are about the only ones that make sense and won’t be annoying. Of course, the next question is are text ads, audio ads, or video ads? I would think that text ads would be pretty useless–how often do you look at your iPod while it’s playing? Video ads? Similar issue. Audio Ads or Video Ads with Audio, maybe if they are less than ten seconds long. Like the above example with Paramore, that might be worthwhile if they can determine venues I’d consider going to. Paramore in concert tomorrow night in Sweden is useless to me, since I’m in Southern California.
I’d be worried about the carpet bombing marketers, though. I don’t need to hear, “Buy your <insert band name here> T-Shirts and Concert Souvenirs on ebay.com” between every song.
But I don’t see that it has much potential for broad-based advertising.
Actually, I just had a thought! Advertising based on genre!
After the country song: Ads for pick-up trucks, gun-racks, etc.
After the emo song: Ads for razor blades, poison, etc.
After the rap song: Ads for bail bonds, lawyers, etc.
So it might be useful after all!
😀 😀 😀 😀 😀 😀 😀 😀 😀
Bwa
Haha
hahahahaha!
Actually the Zune isn’t badly botched. It’s just mediocre. It’s not so bad that it hasn’t sucked a lot of the life out of the non-ipod also rans. MS, unable to compete with its enemy, has instead cannibalized its so-called partners.
Try to visualize Steve Jobs putting ads on, say, the iphone. ooooh yeah, cool new revenue source. Not.
Apple actually does a lot of things wrong and MS does a lot of things right BUT SJ has a laser focus on his END users, while MS sees them as cattle to be sold to Hollywood, IT, advertisers, etc.
Yes, google is essentially an ad sales organization. But google understands that ad-supported products are FREE.
MS, muddled and mediocre can’t decide if they want to be google or Apple. They should actually try to be MS… run those legacy apps… fast. They way BillyG would have coded it back in the day. Be the safe corporate choice (compatible, headache free) and the corporations will stay.
But one day Balmer wants to be Apple. The next he wants to be google. And the next day he wants to be google on the device trying to be Apple. The cash piles in anyway, faster than Balmer can waste it. They’re the new GM. Too much cash flow to die, but utterly incapable of producing something new, or succeeding in a new market. Every once in a while they’ll get an upgrade right.
Microsoft is becoming the test bed of wrong thinking ideas for which Apple will gladly choose not to use….
The Fegg Pucker can’t be that dumb; the zune will be free. Or it’ll die. As for MDN, this is a free service, even if I see no inline or popup-popunder ads. Learn how to choose and use a browser.
At first I held deep contempt for the egg tosser…now…not so much.
Why would I want MY personal device to be invaded by the outside world? I listen to my music to ESCAPE from the outside world. Why in the hell would I like to stare at Hillary/Obama knockout ad or a slap the sumo wrestler’s belly ad on my media player? My God. I think Microsuck must want to kill their ailing Zune. Why else would you make such a boneheaded idea?
Got to love the clueless and total disrespect for your paying customer. Play for Sure is were the Zune is headed. The Xbox with ads is one thing because gamers understand that the hardware is sold at or in MS case below cost. The Zune because of low manufacturing levels is sold for little to no profit and maybe even at a loss. Ads on the Zune will basically kill any sells that it might have. Who know this move might help MS’s partners Creative, Samung and iRiver might start getting a little bits of their market share back from Microsoft. When you partner with the Devil you’ll bound to get burned and good.
Ads on your MP3 player.
What a joke.
Might as well buy a $20 AM/FM battery powered mini receiver, plug in the earbuds and listen to ads at a much lower capital cost. They might even throw in the odd song, news report or ball game for free.
Zune Tang, “I didn’t know I needed ads until you made them ubiquitous and user friendly.”
Far too funny! Keep it up. That was an excellent take.
I read somewhere today that from 2006 – 2007, Microscoff
went from like $200 million internet profit, to $745 million loss.
MDN magic word: “Asshats”
Welcome to the Real Idiocracy.
I think Zune Tang® and ChrissyOne are the same person. I’ve never seen them in the same room together.