Microsoft Corporation and Vivaki/Publicis Groupe Announce Broad Strategic Agreement

Paris and Redmond, Washington (ots/PRNewswire) -

- Companies Pursue More Engaging Digital Content, Increased
Marketing Performance and Sharply-Defined Audiences

Microsoft and Publicis Groupe today announced a broad agreement
to closely cooperate on three core objectives enabled by the
emergence of the digital media world. Focusing on Content,
Performance and Audience, respective teams will work to bring better
value and more efficacy to their clients across the range of digital
media experiences.

The relationship will center on key components of the digital
marketing and advertising industry:

- CONTENT: The creation, production and distribution of programming,
across the wide array of capabilities, tools, and services on the
digital palette.
- PERFORMANCE: Technologies, methods and innovation focused on the
delivery of better performance including search, ad serving and the
portfolio of performance technologies and services.
- AUDIENCE: The definition, delivery and measurement of specific
audiences based on a set of defined criteria

Through the Publicis owned studio PBJS, and in partnership with
the Vivaki Nerve Center, Microsoft will support a PBSJ-developed
Content Studio to help enable large scale, global programming
opportunities. Publicis Groupe clients will have first access to the
programs delivered by the Content Studio.

Microsoft and Publicis Groupe will also work together to explore
technologies and methodologies that will enhance engagement,
performance and return on investment in the digital marketing and
advertising space. The first of these efforts is an ongoing Microsoft
commitment to The Pool, a VivaKi research initiative that tests new
online video ad formats and new digital ad models. The first lane of
the Pool, in test this summer, focused on online video. The second
lane, announced last week, will focus on short form video content.
Future lanes will encompass mobile, advanced television and social
marketing.

The focus on audience is the creation of a customized VivaKi ad
exchange for television advertising delivered via the Admira
technology, developed by Microsoft's Navic subsidiary. This will
enable more "audience-specific" television buying by VivaKi, creating
an Audience on Demand for television. Admira aggregates anonymous
audience intelligence that may be more challenging to find using
traditional sources of viewership measurement, and combines it with
additional audience characteristics currently not available on
existing television advertising platforms. Admira can continuously
optimize ad placements in response to near real-time viewing trends
and report the actual audiences that are delivered, which will help
agencies and advertisers measure the success of campaigns.

As part of the agreement, Starcom MediaVest Group, Zenith
Optimedia and Digitas will be one of the first agency networks to use
Microsoft Advertising's Admira technology to help clients plan and
buy media when Admira goes live in the fourth quarter of 09.

"This agreement reflects our commitment to partner with the
world's largest agencies to drive new ideas and innovations that
address the complex marketing needs and challenges facing advertisers
today," said Darren Huston, corporate vice president of Microsoft
Corp's Consumer & Online group. "It illustrates our belief that
partnerships that bring creativity and technology together can be a
powerful combination for brand marketers looking to grow their
share."

David Kenny, managing partner of VivaKi and a member of the
Publicis Groupe Directoire, said of the agreement: "Maurice Levy
founded VivaKi on the principle of open source pursuit of digital
solutions for clients. By partnering with Microsoft and focusing on
three critical components of content, performance and audience, we
are a stronger partner to our clients and can bring them solutions
ahead of the marketplace. Given the pace of change in today's
consumer landscape, collaboration is the smartest approach to keep
marketers ahead of the curve."

About Microsoft Advertising

Microsoft Advertising provides world-class advertising tools and
solutions for digital advertisers and publishers to drive brand and
consumer engagement. The portfolio includes all of Microsoft's
digital advertising businesses: its global media network that
includes MSN, Windows Live, Office Live, Xbox LIVE, Live Search,
Facebook and more, and its global technology platforms and tools that
include Atlas, AdECN, adCenter, DRIVEpm, Massive, Navic, Rapt and
ScreenTonic, which together create engaging digital advertising
experiences for their consumers. Microsoft Advertising helps make
buying and selling media simple, smart and cost-effective across
media and devices in the Microsoft network of properties and beyond,
which spans 42 markets globally and 21 languages. Visit
http://advertising.microsoft.com for more information.

About Microsoft

Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq "MSFT") is the worldwide
leader in software, services and solutions that help people and
businesses realize their full potential.

Navic, a subsidiary of Microsoft has been a leader in advertising
and interactive television technology to the cable and direct
broadcast satellite television industry. More information is
available at http://admira.navic.tv.

About Publicis Groupe

(Publicis Groupe [Euronext Paris: FR0000130577] is the world's
fourth largest communications group. In addition, it is ranked as the
world's second largest media agency, and is a global leader in
digital and healthcare communications. With activities spanning 104
countries on five continents, the Groupe employs approximately 45,000
professionals. Publicis Groupe offers local and international clients
a complete range of advertising services through three global
advertising networks, Leo Burnett, Publicis, Saatchi & Saatchi, and
two multi-hub networks, Fallon and 49%-owned Bartle Bogle Hegarty.
Media consultancy and buying is offered through two worldwide
networks, Starcom MediaVest Group and ZenithOptimedia; and
interactive and digital marketing led by Digitas. Publicis Groupe
recently launched VivaKi to leverage the combined scale of the
autonomous operations of Digitas, Starcom MediaVest Group, Denuo and
ZenithOptimedia to develop new services, tools, and next generation
digital platforms. Publicis Groupe's Specialized Agencies and
Marketing Services offer healthcare communications, corporate and
financial communications, sustainability communications, shopper
marketing, public relations, CRM and direct marketing, event and
sports marketing, and multicultural communications.

Web site: http://www.publicisgroupe.com

ots Originaltext: Microsoft Advertising
Im Internet recherchierbar: http://www.presseportal.de

Contact:
Contacts: Microsoft: Tom Phillips, Microsoft Advertising
+1-206-619-4013; Alex Kingdon, Microsoft Advertising EMEA
+44-7971-002936; Publicis Groupe / VivaKi: Peggy Nahmany, Corporate
Communications +33(0)1-44-43-72-83; Cheri Carpenter, VivaKi Corporate
Communications, +1-312-446-9276; Martine Hue, Investor Relations,
+33(0)1-44-43-65-00