Classmates.com 2009 Annual Report Download - page 120

Table of Contents
UNITED ONLINE, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
1. DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS, BASIS OF PRESENTATION, ACCOUNTING POLICIES, AND RECENT ACCOUNTING
PRONOUNCEMENTS (Continued)
campaigns consisting of television, Internet, sponsorships, radio, print, and outdoor advertising, and on retail and other performance-based
distribution relationships. Marketing and advertising costs to promote the Company's products and services are expensed in the period incurred.
Advertising and promotion expenses include media, agency and promotion expenses. Production costs are expensed the first time the
advertisement is run. Media and agency costs are expensed over the period the advertising runs. Advertising and promotion expense for the years
ended December 31, 2009, 2008 and 2007 was $118.5 million, $102.7 million and $99.5 million, respectively. At December 31, 2009 and 2008,
$3.0 million and $3.5 million, respectively, of prepaid advertising and promotion expense was included in other current assets in the
consolidated balance sheets.
Technology and Development —
Technology and development expenses include expenses for product development, maintenance of existing
software and technology and the development of new or improved software and technology, including personnel-related expenses for the
Company's technology group in various office locations, and the costs associated with operating the Company's facility in India. Costs incurred
by the Company to manage and monitor the Company's technology and development activities are expensed as incurred. Costs relating to the
acquisition and development of internal-use software are capitalized when appropriate and depreciated over their estimated useful lives,
generally three years.
Software Development Costs —The Company accounts for costs incurred to develop software for internal use in accordance with ASC 350,
which requires such costs be capitalized and amortized over the estimated useful life of the software. The Company capitalizes costs associated
with customized internal-use software systems that have reached the application development stage. Such capitalized costs include external
direct costs utilized in developing or obtaining the applications and payroll and payroll-related expenses for employees who are directly
associated with the applications. Capitalization of such costs begins when the preliminary project stage is complete and ceases at the point in
which the project is substantially complete and ready for its intended purpose. The Company capitalized costs associated with internal-use
software of $10.6 million and $7.0 million in the years ended December 31, 2009 and 2008, respectively, which are being depreciated on a
straight-line basis over each project's estimated useful life which is generally three years. Capitalized internal-use software is included within the
computer software and equipment category within property and equipment, net, in the consolidated balance sheets.
Software to be Sold, Leased or Marketed —The Company follows the provisions of ASC 985, which requires that all costs relating to the
purchase or internal development and production of computer software products to be sold, leased or otherwise marketed be expensed in the
period incurred unless the requirements for technological feasibility have been established. The Company capitalizes all eligible computer
software costs incurred once technological feasibility is established. The Company amortizes these costs using the greater of the straight-line
method over a period of three to five years or the revenue method prescribed by ASC 985. At December 31, 2009 and 2008, the net book value
of capitalized computer software costs related to the internal development and production of computer software to be sold, leased or otherwise
marketed was $12.0 million and $14.0 million, respectively. During the years ended December 31, 2009 and 2008, $3.7 million and $0.9 million,
respectively, was charged to expense related to the amortization of these capitalized computer software costs.
General and Administrative —General and administrative expenses include personnel-
related expenses for executive, finance, legal, human
resources, facilities, and internal customer support
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