paidContent.org is reporting Facebook and Microsoft are scaling back their ad relationship. Microsoft powered much of Facebook’s display ad network. Facebook is no longer using Microsoft for their international display ads but might also drop them in the U.S. as well.

Back in 2007, Microsoft invested $240 million in Facebook, and made an ad deal. The ad deal originally did not include search but soon later added Live Search to Facebook.

Most these relationships do not last forever – so it will be interesting to see where Facebook goes from here. Do they continue a relationship with Microsoft, make a deal with Google or go at it solo?

Related Topics: Channel: Social | Facebook | Microsoft: Partnerships

About The Author: Barry Schwartz is Search Engine Land's News Editor and owns RustyBrick, a NY based web consulting firm. He also runs Search Engine Roundtable, a popular search blog on very advanced SEM topics. Barry's personal blog is named Cartoon Barry and he can be followed on Twitter here. For more background information on Barry, see his full bio over here. See more articles by Barry Schwartz

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