Microsoft has spent years trying to build an effective competitor to AdSense without much success but there are new reports that a partnership with ad optimization network YieldBuild is showing promising results.

Microsoft’s PubCenter is an ad platform for publishers that serve high-quality text ads alongside those from other networks, while YieldBuild’s algorithms optimize for the most profitable combination of network and layout. There are several reports that significantly higher CPM rates have been achieved during private beta testing, but naturally we’re not really going to know until it’s released into the wild.

Microsoft is determined to find ways to compete with Google in this space, so publishers should keep an eye out for the advantageous deals that are sure to be on offer soon.