The sale of iPhones and other smartphones have soared in the past couple of years and Gartner predicts that this high growth trend is only likely to continue.
The mobile internet experience on the smartphones is so much better than on the feature phones that Google has today announced an update to their AdSense program that will give publishers with content that specifically target smartphone users an ability to serve larger ads to their visitors.
Herewith, AdSense mobile publishers have an option to pick one of two options while inserting an ad unit on their mobile site - All Phones or iPhone and other high-end devices. The latter shall be served by default. According to a post on the official Google Mobile blog, the company writes that they have "done this by introducing a new JavaScript snippet that is easy to implement and specifically optimized for mobile to reduce latency on high-end mobile phones. Furthermore, this new snippet will allow publishers to select additional ad unit sizes from common AdSense formats".
Does the user or the publisher have a choice to see the default smaller text ads? No, says Google. Even if the publisher chooses to target all phones, those ads served to smartphone users shall automatically be larger. Google explains that this move will not only help publishers earn more revenue off their ads, but "users' experience is also improved, with increasingly relevant and device-optimized mobile ads".
In a way, Google is right. The advertising ecosystem on the mobile is still not as robust as their desktop counterpart. By introducing such features, it will encourage publishers to develop more content for the mobile phones which will in turn bring in more advertisers and will help nurture the ecosystem.
How do you see this move from Google - As a general good for businesses or as a hindrance to user experience? Please let us know in the comments.
[via Google Mobile Blog]
This is bad right? at least for someone that isnt publishing ad's
Sounds like it's time to start editing the hosts file on your iPhone. When will advertisers learn that we'll put up with small, short ads, but once they become obnoxious and obtrusive we will find a way to block them?
I was thinking of upgrading my original version iPhone today to the 3G. Any reason I should be waiting? I assume technology has stabilized for the time being and it will be a while until AT&T loses their exclusive.
Jeff
As an advertiser I sort of like, but as an (iPhone) user of course this stinks…Unless there is some sort of middle ground for those who want the ads, I'll be expecting all types of ad blocking apps to "pop up!" he, he
STONEY XL
Google Adsense is now baking advertisements into search results on the iPhone browser. Great idea and tool for advertisers who's target market relies on the iPhone. Next, Google should find ways to leverage Adsense to bake advertisements into iPhone applications (especially those that are location specific).