Google Updates AdWords API

Google has launched an updated AdWords API v2009 beta. This version has been named version 200909. The highlights of the new API as given a run-down by Google are as follows.

- Asynchronous calls – Instead of waiting for each and every call to complete when you make API requests, developers can now just receive an acknowledgement that their call has been received and then they can proceed to make another call. This way large requests that operate on large data sets become faster and easier to handle. The previous support for Synchronous calls will be continued as well.

- Location Extensions preview – The full functionality of the location extensions concept is under development but a preview of the full functionality is available in this release of the AdWords API.

- Keyword and placement ideas – A new TargetingIdeaService has been made available, so developers can get keyword and placement ideas through the API, thereby leveraging the functionality of the search-based keyword tool.

A complete list of all the new features is available in the release notes. [http://code.google.com/apis/adwords/v2009/docs/releasenotes.html]. Google says that in the near future, new features and additional AdWords functionality will be introduced. Some of the planned new features are ReportService, AccountService and the ability to do error checking.

Google encourages developers to start migrating systems to the v2009 API because v2009 introduces new features and concepts. The sunset period for deprecated services has also been extended to a period of 6 months.

So if you are using the Google AdWords API for a custom-coded application that interfaces with this API, now might be a good time to crank up the available docs and update what has been changed by Google.

I know, pretty techy blog post for today!  But hey every once in awhile even I have to get serious!  ;P

Michael R Roberts