Newsletter March 2007

Dear readers,
I would like to take the opportunity to announce the opening of our two new offices in Germany; Berlin and Cologne. As our clients needs are rapidly increasing and Germany is such an important market we will in the near future be expanding with more offices. In the UK not only do we have a new country sales office but also our central EMEA office focusing on our European marketing. We are proud to have over 55 employees spread over our offices in Paris, Madrid, London, Cologne, Berlin and our headquarters in Stockholm.

Håkan Mauritzon, CEO, Relevant Traffic Europe

News

 

Google to Stop Holding Personal Data

Google has announced it is to stop holding personal data on users indefinitely, following pressure from privacy bodies and new legislation. The internet search giant previously held information about people's search keywords for an indefinite period of time. Google will now make the data it holds on people 'anonymous' after two years, matching data laws that are now being introduced across Europe

Microsoft Buys TellMe, Voice-Activated Mobile Search Provider

Microsoft has finalized a deal to purchase TellMe, a directory assistance provider and voice-activated mobile search firm, giving Redmond a possible edge in the race to develop a better mobile search tool. A statement released by Microsoft specifically called out "search services on mobile phones that integrate with Live Search for mobile offerings" as an area of interest between the two companies. Microsoft said the acquisition was mainly based on the drive to compete with Google in the field of mobile search since TellMe has a sophisticated speech platform that can be the front end for a lot of applications.

Magazine, Newspaper and TV Ads Precipitate Online Searches

In a recent analysis of BIGresearch's Simultaneous Media Survey, consumers said that they were most motivated to begin an online search after viewing: Ads in magazines (47.2%), newspapers (42.3%), ads on TV (42.8%) and from reading articles (43.7%) Women were more likely than men to be motivated (to begin an online search) by coupons (41.8% vs. 29.0%), and in-store promotions (29.0% vs. 24.5%). Men were more driven to start an online search based on a face-to-face conversation (36.1% vs. 29.5%).

 

MORE READING

 

Comcast Signals Unhappiness With Google

http://online.wsj.com/public/article/SB117409563515840282-efuS22JsU17UgHmfY4DRh6YnceI_20070325.html  

Big Four Portals Grab Bulk of Ad Dollars

http://publications.mediapost.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=Articles.san&s=57317&Nid=28489&p=398696

The New Shape of Local Search

http://blog.ask.com/2007/03/the_new_shape_o.html