Ballmer says ads will lead growth at Microsoft
Seattle PI | at | by Mike
Microsoft Chief Executive Steve Ballmer said Wednesday that he is focused on making advertising one of the fastest-growing businesses at the software maker.
Microsoft, in talks to join with America Online to expand the reach of its MSN unit, is "closing in on" $2 billion in advertising revenue, Ballmer said, making the company third behind Google Inc. and Yahoo! Inc. He declined to comment on discussions with AOL parent Time Warner Inc.
"Online advertising is of keen interest to us," Ballmer said at an event for Washington, D.C.-area business leaders.