FAST Debuts Self-Serve Contextual Ad Service; Will Compete With Google

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on February 6, 2007 - 1:28pm.

Oslo, Norway - Fast Search & Transfer, a developer of search technologies, has announced the launch of a private-label contextual advertising service that will allow businesses to serve relevant ads on their own websites without using Google's services.

The company said its FAST AdMomentum service was developed in cooperation with online publishers looking for more profitable and flexible online ad services.

"Publishers want to maintain control of their revenue, serving their advertisers and audiences more effectively, and this has been difficult to do with third-party platforms," said FAST CEO John M. Lervik.

"With FAST AdMomentum, we give that control and independence back to publishers."

Initial customers for the service include online directory service Local.com, Norway-based newspaper group Schibsted and Australian search provider Sensis.

http://tinyurl.com/3cwvvr (CNET)