MSN to start paid listings

"Microsoft plans to start a service where clients will pay to be listed alongside its MSN search results, people familiar with the plans said. !

It will be similar to competing programs from Google Inc. and Yahoo! Inc. Microsoft will announce a pilot program March 16, said the people, who asked not to be identified. These paid searches auction off placement next to Web search results to companies with related products."

Their contract with Yahoo ends in 2006. Be ready for the new CPC provider.