Google to run video ads from BMG, Warner

Google Inc, the search giant announced last week that it would expand testing of its much-probable video advertising system by working with two major music labels to implant video ads on web sites, which make’s money running them.

Google said it will further distribute advertising beside videos from Sony BMG Music Entertainment and Warner Music Group over its AdSense online ad system to Web site publishers in coming four-week test now underway.

Yahoo! keeps Reuters on message

Reuters is poised to announce a partnership with Yahoo!, which would give the news provider’s rumor-hungry customers millions of possible new contacts through instant messaging. It is used globally by more than 90,000 brokers and city analysts to trade tip-odds, scandal and strategies, Reuters Messaging would be restored this week as the London based news group teams up its game against Bloomberg.

Reuters by now has contract with AOL and Microsoft’s MSN Messenger but it sees the tie-up with Yahoo! as a coup. It means users of the Reuters messaging system could chat with an expected 70 million subscribers to the Yahoo! version. Reuters David Gurle leads the messaging development group, says it is fundamental to the FTSE 100 group’s wider business goals.

Google, Yahoo, and Microsoft Team with Rights Groups to Form Web Conduct Code

Microsoft, Google, Yahoo and Vodafone are in talks with human rights and press freedom groups to assemble an Internet code of conduct to protect free speech and privacy of today’s Web users.

The participating group announced that they aim to produce a code by the end of this year that would respond to trends such as the increased jailing of Internet journalists, monitoring of legitimate online activity, and censorship.

Talk is being led by the Washington based Center for Democracy and Technology and San Francisco’s non-profit Business for Social Responsibility. They are trying to craft a code to hold companies answerable if they cooperate with governments to repress free speech or violate human rights.

Google’s library grows and grows

Google has recently announced another major US college library to join its controversial project to put the world’s books online. More than one million written books at University of Texas library in Austin would be converted to digital format and added to Google Books Library Project.

The university’s collection has rare books and manuscripts from early Latin American history, said Google.

The Google Book Search project was started during 2004 with a hope of scanning every literary work into digital format and making them accessible online. Google has partnerships with the New York Public Library and few other major universities such as Harvard, Oxford, Complutense of Madrid and the University of California to add more collections to its virtual book shelves.

Microsoft, Google agree to NGO code of conduct

Beijing – To promote freedom of expression and privacy rights, Google Inc., Microsoft Corp., and two other companies are planning to develop a code of conduct with a coalition of nongovernmental organization.

The two organizations with Yahoo Inc. and Vodafone Group announced that the new guidelines are the result of talks with Business for Social Responsibility (BSR) and the Berkman Center for Internet & Society at Harvard Law School. The involved party stated that they will be developing a framework, which would hold signatories accountable for their actions in the areas of freedom of expression and privacy rights.

The participating groups in development of the guidelines include: Berkman Center for Internet & Society at Harvard Law School; Business for Social Responsibility; Electronic Frontier Foundation; Human Rights Watch; along with Reporters without Borders.

Google wins subsidies to build N.C. server farm

By way of quick expansion of its computing ability, Google is now opening a $600 million data center in Lenoir, N.C. State officials stated that this new server farm can create up to 210 jobs.

Further both search giants Google and Microsoft received kind subsidies from state and home governments. The city officials in Lenoir also agreed to waive 100% of Google’s business property taxes and 80% of its real estate taxes for coming three decades. Google is also getting a state grant that may be worth as much as $4.8 million.

MSN to launch new mobile beta homepage – MSN to go

The start of 2007 must see MSN taking back some of the spotlight from Windows Live.

First up is MSN goes with the new MSN Mobile service. Similar to its Windows Live counterpart, MSN also offers users a homepage for the mobile device, with both Windows Live Mail and Search integration where it differs although unlike the mobile Live.com. MSN to go do not carry all the customization options such as gadgets and feeds, instead focusing on providing MSN content such as news, sports and movie times.

The new MSN mobile homepage has the recent launch of the Soapbox mobile page, supporting the belief, which mobile is one of the areas where Microsoft’s online efforts are equal to, if not better than, its rivals.

Reveille, MSN open up debate

MSN now premiers a new online series in which two pop culture group debate the right and wrongs of today’s happening topics and ask for viewers’ votes on why their respective arguments are correct.

The Big Debate, MSN Originals’ the interactive comedy produced by LA indie Reveilli, allows the viewers to explore themselves in the popular matters of debate by reading and posting comments. Reveille and Microsoft partnership announced in May last year is now in result, they are on the way to develop “the next generation” of entertainment programming online.

RCOM to offer Yahoo Instant Messenger

MUMBAI: Now Yahoo Instant Messages would appear on Reliance India Mobiles, as Anil Ambani and Yahoo India has recently finalized an agreement to offer these facilities across the country. The company would make the official announcement sometime in coming week. This is Yahoo’s first Wireless Village compliant implementation in Asia. This is been developed by ACL Wireless for Reliance and Yahoo.

Yahoo! TV to Preview Smallville Episode

In an attempt to plot its long time fans and attract new viewers, Yahoo! TV (http://tv.yahoo.com) would stream an extended foretaste of the first act of a key episode of The CW’s hit series Smallville the day prior to broadcast. Further a special photo gallery would accompany particular quotes from the stars of the series. The stream launched on 17th Jan, 2007, the “Justice” episode airs at The CW on 18th Jan, (8:00-9:00 p.m. ET).