Microsoft Releases Net Ad Service Early

Microsoft Corp. released its new Internet advertising service more than a month ahead of schedule as the world’s largest software maker escalates efforts to conquer Google Inc.

AdCenter was available for all advertisers to use as of Thursday rather than as of as late as June, a spokesman said. Microsoft is charging less for ads initially to lure customers from Google, which dominates Internet search ads.

The product is the culmination of three years of work to catch up with Google, which began a similar service almost six years ago.