Google is testing a new product they call Ad Manager. This free and currently invite-only service is supposed to be a framework for webmasters, helping you to sell your ad space. It sounds like an interesting offering for all those who directly sell their ad space on some of their sites, because this Google wrapper could e.g. simplify setting up reports for advertisers. Google in return would then make money simply due to the chance that you will (completely optionally) accept their AdSense ads to show whenever you don’t have advertisers yourself.

• You can sign-up for an invitation at the end of the tour.

How does this new service connect to Google’s recently approved acquisition of DoubleClick? The Wall Street Journal writes:

Google developed Ad Manager itself and says that it will serve Web publishers with small- to medium-size sales forces, while DoubleClick’s services are suited for higher-end ad-sales operations. Some industry executives have speculated that Google will eventually make DoubleClick’s ad-serving services free. A Google spokesman says the company has no immediate plans to make DoubleClick products free.

Google Ad Manager seems to have been in development at Google at least since late 2006; that was when co-editor Tony Ruscoe discovered the service code-named “GAM” (though it was only on February 21st this year that he learned the abbreviation meant “Ad Manager”). (from: here)