Software maker Microsoft announced late July 2 that it was writing down $6.2 billion to cover costs incurred from its investment in online advertising firm aQuantive. This is stated in the official press release of the company.

The write-off will be made from earnings for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2012 (ended in June). Previously, analysts estimated Microsoft's possible profit for this period at approximately $5.3 billion, the Associated Press indicates . Thus, Microsoft faces a quarterly loss for the first time in 20 years.

Microsoft acquired aQuantive in 2007 for approximately six billion dollars. As AR reminds, this transaction was one of the largest in the history of the corporation. However, as indicated in the current press release from Miscrosoft, the purchase of aQuantive did not lead to the growth and profits that the company initially expected.

The business media note that Microsoft's write-offs demonstrate that the company has failed to displace its main competitor, the search engine Google , from its position as a leader in the Internet advertising market. Google controlled 74 percent of the U.S. contextual advertising market last year, while Microsoft controlled just 13.7 percent, according to eMarketer. This year, Google expects to increase its market share to 77.9 percent, while Microsoft expects its figure to decline to 11.5 percent.

Microsoft to write off $6.2 billion due to failed advertising investments