Last week I was generously invited by Microsoft Advertising to attend the
Cannes Lions International Advertising Festival. Thousands of marketers and advertisers from across the globe meet in Cannes, France, to rub shoulders with the luminaries of the media and creative industries such as Sir Martin Sorrell , Mark Zuckerberg and Spike Jonze. Yahoo even managed to get Hollywood superstar Ben Stiller to spend time talking about creativity.
As a major sponsor of the event, Microsoft featured heavily throughout the programme. SVP of Marketing, Mich Mathews, contrasted the different approaches Microsoft takes for dominant brands, such as Windows 7, to challengers, such as Bing. Of course, it wouldn’t be Microsoft if we didn’t get a sneak peek at some technology. Windows Mobile 7 is Microsoft’s hope to gain ground on Apple, RIM and Android in the smart phone battle. The launch of Xbox Kinect in November should bring gaming to a broader audience with its revolutionary no-controller, natural interface. Both of these technologies will give marketers new ways to connect with their audiences.
With so much going on, it’s impossible for one person to follow everything at Cannes. There was certainly a sense of optimism compared to last year and no doubt that technology increases to play an important part of creating and delivering effective advertising.
Click on the above image to see a short video live from Cannes with Microsoft's Mel Carson.
Jonathan Beeston | Client Services Director, Europe
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