Google AdWords is an attracting solution for the majority of the internet companies that are looking for an advertising platform to display their ads. Because it is the most popular search engine on the internet, Google implemented an ad system on the results page that will display ads concerning the keywords typed by the user. So, many companies are already using the service but it seems even the software giants are attracted by the advertising solution.

Microsoft, the company that created the most-known Windows operating system, placed ads on Google search engine results page advertising its search engine. Philipp Lenssen posted a message on his blog and attached a picture to present a Microsoft ad displayed for the "mov file" keyword.

"Microsoft is advertising on Google - thus paying a competitor - as a (US) search for .mov files shows. The ad for this query will take you to a search.msn.com result with a direct Encarta encyclopedia box on top (".mov file format: Apple Quicktime movie file", in this case). The StraightUpSearch blog comments that it's hardly a selling point to tell the user, "Sure, you already chose Google to deliver your search results. But Live.com offers search results too!" Then again, this seems to make more sense than search engines like MSN advertising MSN search in their own results..." he said.

Although many users reported that the ad is not displayed when they search Google using the same keyword, the screenshot captured by Philipp represents a sponsored ad included on the Google search engine results page. I am a little surprised by this ad because Microsoft owns all the resources required to develop its personal advertising platform and place several ads to make its software solution a real success.