MSN Tests Analytics Tool

Microsoft is currently testing a keyword analytics tool, code-named "Gatineau" to compete with Google's free analytics offering, Google Analytics.

News of the early-stage alpha test surfaced late last week on blogs of two of the project team members--Ian Thomas, who heads the Gatineau project for Microsoft's Digital Advertising Solutions team, and Reeves Little, program manager with Windows Live Europe.

The technology is based on that of the Gatineau, Canada-based DeepMetrix Corporation, which Microsoft acquired last year. In the coming months, Microsoft expects to launch an invitation-only beta to test the tool.

The product is slated for release later this year, but Microsoft intends to gradually add users to avoid the system instability that initially plagued Google Analytics.

Shortly after it launched in October 2005, a surge in demand overwhelmed Google Analytics, leading the company to briefly stop accepting new users.

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Source: MediaPost