Dentsu extends search alliance

Dentsu and US online ad technology firm 24/7 Real Media have unveiled plans to roll out the search engine marketing JV they founded last year in Japan to key markets across Asia.

The partners listed China, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand and India as priority markets, but will assess the potential profitability of each market before setting up shop.

Dentsu will help set up each new local subsidiary and offer operational support while 24/7 Real Media will license its Decide DNA technology to each office. Initially, the two companies are looking to establish a jointly-owned holding company, provisionally called Dentsu 24/7 Search Holdings, within the next two weeks, to oversee the rollout.