WebProNews

Massive Layoffs Await MySpace Employees

Layoff described by one source as ":massive" are coming to MySpace although there is no official word yet from the company.  MySpace shed 5% of its staff a year ago and laid of as many as 45 more last month. But these cuts will go far deeper, according to TechCrunch and could hit several hundred. Management will inevitably blame a tough economy and plummeting ad revenue, but declining traffic is the real culprit.

China's Massive Virtual District Discussed

We’re not even positive of its name, but without a doubt, this will be big; China is making an 80-square-kilometer space into the home of nine huge virtual worlds.

Microsoft Elbows Google Aside For EA Deal

Microsoft's purchase of Massive, an in-game advertising company, and some executive-swapping, enabled it to beat Google and other competitors for the EA contract.

Friendster Coming Back? Puh-leeze

Matt Marshall over at Venture Beat has a post up about Friendster with a “returning from the dead” kind of vibe: Matt points out that the site — which is kind of the poster boy for early social-networking success, followed by equally rapid failure — has had what he calls a “massive” 40-per-cent jump in page views in May, to 9 billion (Facebook gets about 11 billion a month).

In Game Advertising: Google Acquires Adscape

Continuing it’s efforts toward exerting advertising dominance within the Web 2.0 sphere, Google has announced the acquisition of Adscape, a small San Francisco based advertising firm that specializes in developing integrated in-game advertising for an assortment of clients.

Fun With Microsoft's Anti-Google Rant

The groundwork for the massive attack on Google Book Search as orchestrated by Microsoft's executives and PR handlers conveniently ignores Microsoft's tactics and history.

Google Acquiring Video Game Ad Company

Google has agreed to acquire Adscape, a company that puts ads inside of video games, for $23 million. Google had missed out on Massive, a company Microsoft picked up for $200-400 million about a year ago, and is going to have to settle for the much smaller Adscape, which it will have to build into a bigger player. Judging by Google's great success with dMarc, I'd assume nothing at this point.

Microsoft Could Make Mobile Phone Ads

Microsoft may be in talks to acquire Third Screen Media, which identifies itself as a "marketing technology" company. If the deal goes through, Microsoft would gain access to technology that can deliver ads to cell phones, as well as the firm's established customer base. Third Screen Media's clients include USA Today and the Weather Channel.

Microsoft Makes A Massive Buy

The in-game advertising technology startup Massive Incorporated will be acquired by an even more massive company, Microsoft.

Google Extends Massive Leechy Lead

A lot of numbers seem to get thrown around the searchblogosphere. I closely follow a shorter list of numbers that matter.