Google introduces mobile image ads

Google image ads are now available to mobile advertisers, in particular those targeting Australia, China, France, Germany, India, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, Russia, Spain, the UK, and the US areas where the service will be available initially.

Previously, only text-based Web ads were available but now both mobile advertisers and publishers can present branded messages to mobile users and have them appear as they would on a desktop. The image ads are keyword-targeted, priced on a CPC basis and must link to a mobile web page.

"For advertisers, mobile image ads serve as a branding tool and have shown to have good click-through rates," said Alexandra Kenin, a Google Mobile product marketing manager.

Until now, slow and costly connections along with devices with small screens have kept a lid on the development of mobile advertising, but the floodgates opened when Apple’s iPhone proved what could be achieved.

A demo video and examples can be found via Google’s mobile blog.

Tags: Google Mobile, image ads, mobile advertising, mobile marketing