In a press release, Microsoft has announced the acquisition of Rapt, a company that specialize in providing advertising yield management solutions for digital media publishers. The acquisition of Rapt will put the existing Rapt’s technology offerings and services such as Advisory Services and Information Services into a key components of the Atlas Publisher Suite, part of Microsoft’s Advertiser and Publisher Solutions Group.

To date, we see the recent Microsoft’s successful acquisition targets are all related to the online advertising sector. In February, Microsoft acquired YaData, as well in last July, Microsoft also acquired AdECN. By acquiring all the online advertising players on the Web, will it make Microsoft a long-term contender in this market, particularly in viewed of Microsoft served as an underdog in this industry. In technology settings, the next Microsoft product for publishers has met the need for what they called yield management solutions, when they included all the built-in features such as workflow tools, ad package and delivery, turnkey distribution, content partnerships, and yield management and optimization. However, how strong will these offerings to the publishers when compare to others in the field is yet to know. As Microsoft being a client for Rapt, they must be very satisfied with Rapt’s technology.

Tomorrow, Microsoft will unveil its Japanese version of Windows Vista Ultimate SP1 to the Japanese market. This new product, with a special name called Σ(SIGMA) will made available on this Saturday in 秋叶原, i.e. Akihabara, Japan. Akihabara is known as one of the world’s largest market for electrical appliances, and also a symbol of Tokyo.

There will be a big event tomorrow in that area, starting from 1pm. To know more detail, you can go to this site.

Microsoft has unveiled the latest release of its flagship product, i.e. Internet Explorer (IE) 8. Since it is the beta version 1, it is only relevant to Web developers and designers looking to understand what made this version different from IE7, and possibly collect feedback from them. According to IE8 blog, several activities are on the way, Microsoft is trying to fulfill the following areas of its IE8:

1) Full CSS 2.1 support in the final IE8 product.

2) Better scripting performance.

3) Support for HTML5.

4) Delivered a better way for web services to integrate into the user’s workflow.

5) Delivered a better way for web services to enable their users to keep an eye on interesting parts of a webpage within the browser with WebSlices.

You can download this IE8 beta version by clicking here, temporarily only available for Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008. However, it should be noted that this version failed to pass the ACID2 test, as it is related to a cross-domain problem.

via [IE8 blog]

Microsoft extended its serious on online advertising by acquired an Israeli startup that called YaData, in Hebrew it mean “You Knew.” YaData, began operation in 2006 and headquartered in Tel Aviv, is a startup that provides analytics software for firms to micro-segment their customers. Despite the fact that the cost of acquisition is not announced by both parties, YaData can be considered as a good buy as it gives Microsoft a much-needed targeting tools especially in areas of customer segmentation. Moreover, this technology particularly is a new brand in services, and will help to increase advertisers’ confidence in using Microsoft’s online advertising products. This is very important especially at this moment Microsoft is going closely after Google in online advertising industry.

In a press release (PDF) issued by YaData, YaData team will join Microsoft’s Israel R&D center in Herzliya (another R&D centers of Microsoft is in Tel Aviv) and its solutions will be deployed through Microsoft’s Advertiser and Publisher Solutions group. Besides, it should be noted that YaData’s previous backers also included Giza and Ofer Hi-Tech.

via [VentureBeat]

Despite the initiatives that named after open source was promoted by Microsoft in several years ago, but I still hardly find any correlation between Microsoft and open source. Sometimes, I thought this is a tactical move that Microsoft trying to raise its public image in the industry. Today, a video has been uploaded to YouTube entitled, “Is Microsoft Open Source’s Friend?“, as embedded in below, watch it.

Microsoft said in a press release that it will launch a new way to measure the Internet advertisement with the approach of “Engagement Mapping.” The Engagement Mapping was indeed an alternative way to the current “last ad clicked” standard. It taking into account for the first time all the various online touchpoints and interactions before a customer buy a product on the Web. Thus, this represents the advertisers will get to know better how a customer finally make the purchase, and in between what led her make that decision. Though this approach might put Microsoft’s position right back in the online advertising battle with Google and Yahoo!, Engagement Mapping is not yet finalized by the Microsoft advertising team.

Microsoft’s “Engagement Mapping” is due to begin in beta and private available on March 1, was previously a technology that owned by Atlas, one of the three assets of aQuantive, that acquired by Microsoft at approximately $6 billion in May last year. If it launch on time, sound like Microsoft has finally integrated this Atlas to its adCenter platform successfully. Testers will include Agência Click + UNICA, Best Western International Inc., BKV, Citi Cards, GSD&M Idea City, Ingenuity Media of The Martin Agency, Initiative, McKinney, MEC Interaction, Mindshare Interaction, Monster Worldwide Inc., Neo@Ogilvy, Sprint and World Vision.

via [CNN]

Last December when Microsoft announced its soon-to-be launched Internet Explorer (IE) 8 passed the Acid2 test, we probably know that this most popular browser will going to be released to the public in this year. Now, the IE blog reported the IE 8 public version will be released within the first half of 2008. However, I think what catch our eyes is an invitation email that posted by ActiveWin, talked about the IE8 Beta 1 is currently focused on the developer community, and assume you’re a developer and have been selected by Microsoft Connect, you can help out reviewing patches and getting them uploaded.

Nevertheless, this beta testing is conducted through invitation, that’s no way one can experience with a certain package and want to triage bugs without the Microsoft invitation email.

Microsoft PressPass has published a text format of an e-mail sent by Kevin Johnson, president of the Microsoft Platforms & Services Division to his employees pertaining to the Microsoft/Yahoo! merger plan. The e-mail discussed about the most popular issues such as arising benefits, staffing, culture, branding, and etc. There is certainly no any statement can be found on Microsoft’s next strategic plan, in a worst-case scenario, if Yahoo! and Microsoft mutually can’t reach on a transaction.

via [AFP]