Microsoft Corporation and Vivaki/Publicis Groupe Announce Broad Strategic Agreement

Microsoft Corporation and Vivaki/Publicis Groupe Announce Broad Strategic Agreement

PARIS and REDMOND, Washington, June 25/PRNewswire-FirstCall/ --

- Companies Pursue More Engaging Digital Content, Increased Marketing
Performance and Sharply-Defined Audiences

Microsoft and Publicis Groupe today announced a broad agreement to
closely cooperate on three core objectives enabled by the emergence of the
digital media world. Focusing on Content, Performance and Audience,
respective teams will work to bring better value and more efficacy to their
clients across the range of digital media experiences.

The relationship will center on key components of the digital marketing
and advertising industry:

- CONTENT: The creation, production and distribution of programming,
across the wide array of capabilities, tools, and services on the
digital palette.

- PERFORMANCE: Technologies, methods and innovation focused on the
delivery of better performance including search, ad serving and the
portfolio of performance technologies and services.

- AUDIENCE: The definition, delivery and measurement of specific
audiences based on a set of defined criteria

Through the Publicis owned studio PBJS, and in partnership with the
Vivaki Nerve Center, Microsoft will support a PBSJ-developed Content Studio
to help enable large scale, global programming opportunities. Publicis Groupe
clients will have first access to the programs delivered by the Content
Studio.

Microsoft and Publicis Groupe will also work together to
explore technologies and methodologies that will enhance engagement,
performance and return on investment in the digital marketing and advertising
space. The first of these efforts is an ongoing Microsoft commitment to The
Pool, a VivaKi research initiative that tests new online video ad formats and
new digital ad models. The first lane of the Pool, in test this summer,
focused on online video. The second lane, announced last week, will focus on
short form video content. Future lanes will encompass mobile, advanced
television and social marketing.

The focus on audience is the creation of a customized VivaKi
ad exchange for television advertising delivered via the Admira technology,
developed by Microsoft's Navic subsidiary. This will enable more
"audience-specific" television buying by VivaKi, creating an Audience on
Demand for television. Admira aggregates anonymous audience intelligence that
may be more challenging to find using traditional sources of viewership
measurement, and combines it with additional audience characteristics
currently not available on existing television advertising platforms. Admira
can continuously optimize ad placements in response to near real-time viewing
trends and report the actual audiences that are delivered, which will help
agencies and advertisers measure the success of campaigns.

As part of the agreement, Starcom MediaVest Group, Zenith
Optimedia and Digitas will be one of the first agency networks to use
Microsoft Advertising's Admira technology to help clients plan and buy media
when Admira goes live in the fourth quarter of 09.

"This agreement reflects our commitment to partner with the
world's largest agencies to drive new ideas and innovations that address the
complex marketing needs and challenges facing advertisers today," said Darren
Huston, corporate vice president of Microsoft Corp's Consumer & Online group.
"It illustrates our belief that partnerships that bring creativity and
technology together can be a powerful combination for brand marketers looking
to grow their share."

David Kenny, managing partner of VivaKi and a member of the
Publicis Groupe Directoire, said of the agreement: "Maurice Levy founded
VivaKi on the principle of open source pursuit of digital solutions for
clients. By partnering with Microsoft and focusing on three critical
components of content, performance and audience, we are a stronger partner to
our clients and can bring them solutions ahead of the marketplace. Given the
pace of change in today's consumer landscape, collaboration is the smartest
approach to keep marketers ahead of the curve."

About Microsoft Advertising

Microsoft Advertising provides world-class advertising tools and
solutions for digital advertisers and publishers to drive brand and consumer
engagement. The portfolio includes all of Microsoft's digital advertising
businesses: its global media network that includes MSN, Windows Live, Office
Live, Xbox LIVE, Live Search, Facebook and more, and its global technology
platforms and tools that include Atlas, AdECN, adCenter, DRIVEpm, Massive,
Navic, Rapt and ScreenTonic, which together create engaging digital
advertising experiences for their consumers. Microsoft Advertising helps make
buying and selling media simple, smart and cost-effective across media and
devices in the Microsoft network of properties and beyond, which spans 42
markets globally and 21 languages. Visit http://advertising.microsoft.com for
more information.

About Microsoft

Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq "MSFT") is the worldwide leader in
software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize
their full potential.

Navic, a subsidiary of Microsoft has been a leader in advertising and
interactive television technology to the cable and direct broadcast satellite
television industry. More information is available at http://admira.navic.tv.

About Publicis Groupe

(Publicis Groupe [Euronext Paris: FR0000130577] is the world's fourth
largest communications group. In addition, it is ranked as the world's second
largest media agency, and is a global leader in digital and healthcare
communications. With activities spanning 104 countries on five continents,
the Groupe employs approximately 45,000 professionals. Publicis Groupe offers
local and international clients a complete range of advertising services
through three global advertising networks, Leo Burnett, Publicis, Saatchi &
Saatchi, and two multi-hub networks, Fallon and 49%-owned Bartle Bogle
Hegarty. Media consultancy and buying is offered through two worldwide
networks, Starcom MediaVest Group and ZenithOptimedia; and interactive and
digital marketing led by Digitas. Publicis Groupe recently launched VivaKi to
leverage the combined scale of the autonomous operations of Digitas, Starcom
MediaVest Group, Denuo and ZenithOptimedia to develop new services, tools,
and next generation digital platforms. Publicis Groupe's Specialized Agencies
and Marketing Services offer healthcare communications, corporate and
financial communications, sustainability communications, shopper marketing,
public relations, CRM and direct marketing, event and sports marketing, and
multicultural communications.

Web site: http://www.publicisgroupe.com

Source: Microsoft Advertising

Contacts: Microsoft: Tom Phillips, Microsoft Advertising +1-206-619-4013; Alex Kingdon, Microsoft Advertising EMEA +44-7971-002936; Publicis Groupe / VivaKi: Peggy Nahmany, Corporate Communications +33(0)1-44-43-72-83; Cheri Carpenter, VivaKi Corporate Communications, +1-312-446-9276; Martine Hue, Investor Relations, +33(0)1-44-43-65-00

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Profile: intent