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Zedo

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Zedo, Inc.
Company typePrivate
IndustryInternet marketing
HeadquartersSan Francisco, California
Key people
Roy de Souza, Co-Founder/CEO, Joseph Jacob, CTO and Jerome Hromiak, Director of Sales
ProductsZedo Ad Server (Publishers, Marketers, Networks), Network Optimization (Publishers), Behavioral Targeting (Networks)
Number of employees
200
Websitewww.zedo.com

Zedo is a privately-held company founded in 1999 by Roy de Souza, which provides several online advertising products and services to websites, ad networks and direct publishers.[1] The company works with publishers who sell space on their web pages to online advertisers. Zedo builds software technology that allows publishers to manage all the ads on their web pages. Zedo uses an HTTP cookie to track users' browsing history resulting in targeted pop-up ads. The cookie is often flagged by spyware and adware removal programs.[2]

History

Zedo began in 1999. The company headquarters is located in the Soma district of San Francisco, California. Their servers send pop-up ads to users' browsers.[3] In 2001, it expanded by offering the ad serving technology to large websites. Zedo has also experimented with creating its own social networking sites. In 2006, it launched ZEBO.com a social networking site where users get shopping advice from friends who own products.[4]

In 2002, Zedo opened an operating office in Mumbai, India and in 2008, an office in Saint Petersburg, Russia.

According to a 2006 press release, Zedo was the third largest ad server.[5] As of today, the company employs 200 people, and its clients include Harvard Business Review, Tagged, CNET.[6] In 2010, Zedo partnered with The Media Trust and Mpire, which are companies that scan ad data for publishers. ZEDO is a member of OTA Alliance, which promotes business practices and technologies to enhance consumer trust and the vitality of interactive marketing, ecommerce, governmental and online financial services.

Criticism

Zedo is often linked[7] to the controversy over spyware because Zedo uses HTTP cookies to track users' browsing and advertisement viewing history[8][9]. The company disputes being categorized as spyware.[10] Though Zedo does offer an opt-out page,[11] it will only affect cookies; Zedo continues to track users via IP addresses.[citation needed] Programs such as Spybot - Search & Destroy quarantine Zedo software as adware so that users can remove it from their computer.[2]

References

  1. ^ "Internet advertising: Top of the pops". The Independent. 2002-10-07. Retrieved 2007-11-26.
  2. ^ a b Kaye, Kate (September 13, 2006). "Anti-Spyware Programs Snare Ad Cookies, Google Cookies Evade All". ClickZ.com. Retrieved December 10, 2009.
  3. ^ Heim, Sarah J. (2001-07-21). "Zedo Ad Serving Technology puts consumers in control". AllBusiness.com. Retrieved 2008-07-05.
  4. ^ Tedeschi, Bob (April 30, 2007). "Got Roomfuls of Stuff? Now Sites Will Help Keep Track of It". New York Times.
  5. ^ Smith, Nicole Flynn (April 2006). "Zedo now industry's third largest ad server with Falk transition" (Press release). Zedo. Retrieved 2008-07-05.
  6. ^ "Zedo Ad Serving : Press". www.zedo.com. Retrieved 2007-11-26.
  7. ^ "Spyware Detail : Zedo". Computer Associates. 2004-08-16. Retrieved 2008-02-28.
  8. ^ Penenberg, Adam L. (2005-11-07). "Cookie Monsters". Slate. Retrieved 2008-07-05.
  9. ^ "Anti-Spyware". Zedo. Retrieved 2008-02-28.
  10. ^ "Opt Out". Zedo. Retrieved 2008-07-08.
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