MySpace to sell search function

to either Google, Yahoo or Microsoft

[moltar]

MySpace to sell search function [newsvote.bbc.co.uk]

MySpace, the internet site that lets users build their own homepage, plans to auction off its search function to either Google, Yahoo or Microsoft.

[trillianjedi]

Can you imagine the quality of the targetting they can do with that?

Very very powerful stuff....

[mack]

I often wondered why Myspace didn't go for it on their own. They had the traffic to make it possible.

Mack.

[lammert]

Importantly, MySpace has detailed logs of its users' preferences, online behaviour and personal information, allowing advertisers to target potential market segments.

We always hear complaints here about Google storing information of users and search behaviour in their database. This however seems not only a database with much more personal information than Google's database, the owners of MySpace actively want to used that information for their own financial benefit.

[rohitj]

why shouldn't they? people put information knowing that it will be public (as per myspace terms) and thus they are part of a network whose goal is to reveal and meet other people via common interests, friendship, and other personal information (relationship status, income, etc.,)

Myspace's goal is to enhance this intimacy and make it more effective at social networking--and this deal, if done correctly, could do just that.

[carguy84]

Sounds like a job for the google mini! :)

[moltar]

the owners of MySpace actively want to used that information for their own financial benefit.

I think hi5 is already doing that. It says that I like web development in my profile and I keep getting hosting, website, domain adsense ads when I browse the site and view pages that totally unrelated to that stuff.

[johncory]

FINE.

[whoisgregg]

I often wondered why Myspace didn't go for it on their own. They had the traffic to make it possible.

It seems pretty clear to me that the Myspace technology staff are having enough trouble keeping the site running to worry about building their own search technology.

[wmuser]

I think only specific ad will work out on myspace pages,something maily teens targeted

[ddogg]

This would be horrible traffic, I would want to opt out if this was in Google's search network.

[Iguana]

40 million active users. I hope Google gives them a search with my music sites in the top 10 for any band name! Not that I imagine many of those users actually use the MySpace search box.

[trinorthlighting]

Look at the demographics of the users at myspace. Over 70% are under the age of 18. It would be terrible traffic for an ecommerce site.