Monday, Nissan North America announced an expanded advertising alliance with Microsoft, allowing the auto manufacturer to connect with consumers via Microsoft Digital Advertising Solutions in mediums such as Windows Live, MSN, Live Search, Xbox and Windows Mobile.

Key parts of this alliance will include sponsorship of the "Forza Motorsport 2" console game on Xbox 360 and global tournament on Xbox Live; a co-branded "blogazine" for Infiniti on MSN called Open for Design; search advertising with Microsoft adCenter; and behavioral targeting and participation in pilot advertising programs within Windows Mobile and Microsoft Office Live, reports GameDaily BIZ.

Central to the alliance is a customized regional dealer strategy that involves the embedding of Nissan and Infiniti dealerships into Live Local Search mapping technology and geo-targeted advertising for dealerships.

"Nissan's target audience is adopting an increasingly mobile lifestyle, and the amount of time consumers spend online is rising significantly," said Jan Thompson, vice-president of marketing at NNA. "Broadening our relationship with Microsoft will enable us to deliver targeted messages to consumers across a diverse online network."