Yahoo To Test Image Advertising On Mobile Phones

[engine]

Yahoo Inc. is to begin delivering graphical ads to mobile phones as part of a test of how it can extend corporate brand marketing on the Web into the wireless market, the company said on Monday.

The Internet media company said it will start an initial public evaluation later this week in the United States of slimmed-down banner ads and similar advertising to the small, but growing number of users of Yahoo's Mobile Web service.

Yahoo To Test Image Advertising On Mobile Phones [today.reuters.co.uk]

[iThink]

It is good to see a player as big as Yahoo having a good look at advertising on the mobile devices. After the PPC text ads from overture and adwords no new significant ad format has emerged in last many years. Besides the usual markets like USA and Europe this can turn out to be a big money spinner for Yahoo in markets like China and South Korea too where cellphone usage is pretty high. A large number of people in countries like China and India may not have access to a desktop PC but they do own cellphones.

An ad format like 'click an ad to directly phone-in the advertiser' can bring in large number of targeted leads for advertisers from the people who otherwise can't be reached by traditional media like newspapers. Potential for this thing is huge. Someone just have to bell this cat.

[Clark]

now why the hell would I want an ad on my phone.