Google Releases AdWords API Beta

Google late Thursday released a beta of an API, otherwise known as an application program interface, for its successful AdWords program. The API will allow developers to better manage campaigns on their own, as well as further innovate the delivery of Google's text-based search ads.

"The AdWords API beta program is an open invitation to developers to explore new concepts (and then write great software) for managing Google AdWords advertising campaigns," Josh McFarland, Google AdWords Product Manager, and Nelson Minar, software engineer wrote, in the Google Blog.

"In our experience, it's better to wear 'Not Invented Here' as a badge of honor than as a chip on your shoulder."

One example of the use of the AdWords API according to Minar would be integration into a company's inventory management system. When a certain product sells out, the ads for that particular product could be taken down automatically.

According to Google, each user of the API will be limited in the amount of "calls," or requests for information, made to the service each day. The developers say this will prevent any one user from taking the entire system down, and keep the service running smoothly.