Is Amazon.com Aiming at the Pay Per Click Advertising Market?
Online retailer Amazon.com has filed for a patent on a method for auctioning Web advertisements, a move that raises questions about the company's interest in the ad market. Specifically, the company is seeking a patent for "a method in a computer system for allocating display space on a Web page, the method comprising: receiving multiple bids indicating a bid amount and an advertisement," according to the application. The system continues with "receiving a request to provide the Web page to a user; selecting, based at least in part on review of bid amounts, a received bid; and adding the advertisement of the selected bid to the Web page." Internet media executives say the proposed method takes a page from cost-per-click advertising with search engines such as Overture and Google. David Halprin, an Internet analyst and consultant, speculated that Amazon may aim to enter the advertising auction market for business-to-business customers. Or the company may aim to profit from the patent later when and if other companies begin to offer such a service. [Full story: Amazon makes Web-ad patent bid - ZDNet UK News]
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