A heel to Microsoft's Achilles

Ad Networks and Analytics:

• comScore said AOL's Platform-A was the top-ranked ad network in March, reaching nine out of 10 online users by combining myriad niche verticals.
• Ad targeting shop Visible World raised $25 million to expand operations.
• WidgeBucks is now the first widget network operator big enough to be counted by comScore.

Agencies and Executives:

• Former Interpublic and MTV exec Mark Rosenthal will head Spot Runner's Media Platforms as vice chairman.

Campaigns of Note:

• Runner's World is creating a co-branded site with JetBlue that combines running news and information with the ability to book flights on the airline.
• Lamborghini made a series of video features available on iTunes.
• CW is using salacious teen imagery, flanked by a header reading "OMFG," to draw watchers to Gossip Girl.

Cross Media:

• Google is reportedly on the verge of making its TV Ads platform available for everyone use. It is also buying time on any of 94 networks received by DISH Networks customers.
• Fox News is debuting Fox Fusion, which allows advertisers to buy ad time or space online, on TV or on any other News Corp property.
• The National Association of Broadcasters is slowly expanding the scope of what it defines as broadcasts.

Legal, Government and Regulation

• Google, Yahoo, eBay, AOL and others have banded together into one organization devoted to lobbying state legislators on issues impacting their businesses.
• Groups whose focus is the protection of kids from intrusive online marketing obviously focused on just that in their responses to the FTC's proposed rules on behavioral targeting.

Mobile

• The Associated Press is experimenting with the delivery of news through its newly created Mobile News Network. Partnerships are still being worked out and its final form has yet to emerge.
• Tesco Mobile has found success with the mobile ads it has been running, and will continue to focus on that area in the future.

Online Content:

• Blog kingpin Nick Denton sold three online properties from Gawker Media: Idolator, Gridskipper and Wonkette. They went to three different new owners.
• Video content from AnswersTV will be syndicated through the AP's Video Network, going out to over 2,000 affiliates.
• Video production house GuerillaTV has entered a deal with distribution site maniaTV, with executives from the former joining the latter as well.
• Borrell Associates says newspapers received $2 billion of the $7.5 billion spent on local online publications.
• The NHL is launching an online video hub with long-form game content supported by advertising from a handful of major consumer brands.

Tools and Software:

• USA Today is releasing a tool that enables people to receive and search for news from the AOL Instant Messenger accounts.
• An analyst from research firm Gartner predicted Microsoft's Windows will collapse, based on the lack of enterprise adoption of Vista.
• New York City parks could get free, ad-supported Wi-Fi according to AnchorFree, which is in negotiations to provide just that.