Microsoft contemplating taking over Claria

Microsoft contemplating taking over Claria

Reliable sources like The New York Times have reported that Microsoft is contemplating buying off Claria. Claria is an ad-ware company whom people associate more with the infamous Gator software. It gives away an electronic wallet but also displays ads based on your surfing habits. The company also is related to other controversial softwares like DashBar, Precision Time, SearchScout, Date Manager, and many other ad-ware applications.

Interestingly, sources also say that there are internal conflicts on whether Microsoft should go ahead with the move considering the bad reputation Claria has in the market. Most net users detest the name Claria and related applications. Microsoft is expected to be criticized heavily if this deal goes through. The company has been sued by well-known companies like the New York Times and the Washington Post, which claimed that Gator application is like a parasite for the computer.

Reports say that Microsoft was ready to pay as much as USD 500 million for their operations. Both the companies have for now declined to comment on these floating rumors of a possible takeover of Claria by Microsoft. Claria basically develops technology, which delivers targeted ads based on information it gathers on consumers’ online behavior. This concept is pretty similar to Google’s Adsense based text-advertisement though the company has clear-cut policies on its usage and effects.

Microsoft needs such technology for their search engines and other products to compete head to head with Google and Yahoo! both of which rely upon their content relevant web advertisement.