Verizon to sell ads on mobile — MobileMonday Global: Industry News

^{Personal small screen attracts advertisers} Verizon to sell ads on mobile

29 Dec 2006 at 14:11 GMT Timo Poropudas

Beginning early next year, the second largest mobile operator in the US, Verizon Wireless, will sell banner advertisements on news, weather, sports and other Internet sites that users visit and display on their mobile phones, company executives said.

This is big step toward towards the widespread appearance of marketing messages on the smallest of screens.

Advertisers have been increasing the amount they spent on mobile marketing, despite lingering questions about the effectiveness of ads on portable phones. Verizon officials make a cautious start. They will limit where ads can appear, and exclude certain kinds of video clip.

“We know we can make significant dollars in mobile Web advertising in 2007,” said John Harrobin, vice president of marketing and digital media for Verizon Wireless at News.com.

“Mobile advertising is going to take off in 2007,” he said.