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MSN expands mobile strategy to Windows Phone 7 platform

Author

Giselle Tsirulnik

MSN has bolstered its cross-platform mobile strategy with the addition of a mobile app and Web site, both optimized for Microsoft?s Windows Phone 7.

MSN Video and Mobile MSN Lifestyle are both ad-supported and available free to uses. The launch of the app and Web site on the WP7 platform is part of MSN?s ongoing strategy to be available to consumers regardless of the smartphone they are using.

?With MSN Video and Lifestyle for Windows Phone 7 advertisers can leverage pre-roll video and oversize 480 x 80 mobile banners to connect with mobile users, all through the sleek context of the phone?s Metro look and feel,? said Jamie Wells, director of global trade marketing for mobile and local advertising and commerce at Microsoft Advertising, Redmond, WA.

MSN Video
The MSN Video application provides users with a large selection of videos covering topics such as entertainment, news, sports, comedy and how-to.

Users can watch videos from special events such as the Academy Awards and Super Bowl, as well as MSN original programs, like ?Last Night on TV? and ?Beauty BFF.?

Videos are displayed in full-screen mode in high-quality mode for better resolution.

Also, MSN Video is integrated with the Windows Phone 7 video and music hub so users can easily look in their history to find videos they have already watched.

Users are able to browse videos from Access Hollywood, Animal Planet, CNBC, Consumer Reports, Discovery, FOX Sports, HealthDay, Howcast, Kiplinger?s, MSNBC, Stupid Videos and Today.  

With such rich content, the advertising opportunities are endless.

MSN Video gives advertisers the option of marketing via 10 to 30 second pre-roll video ad units and 480 x 80 mobile display banner ads (480 x 80).

Mobile MSN Lifestyle
Mobile MSN Lifestyle offers articles and slideshows from brands such as Cosmopolitan, Esquire, InStyle, Redbook, Marie Claire and Good Housekeeping.

The content is optimized for the iPhone, Android and Windows Phone 7.

Each of the different sections are complemented with mobile-optimized lifestyle videos.
 
Mobile MSN Lifestyle will is also be ad funded. The app will feature mobile display ad banners at the top of articles, slideshows and category/department pages.
 
"Both the MSN Video app and the Lifestyle site leverage the unique form factor of Windows Phone 7: touch-screen technologies and gesture-rich controls," Mr. Wells said.