Microsoft is entering the mobile advertising space. The move can be seen as an indication that Mobile is really getting big. Microsoft will now place banner ads on msn portals seen through mobile screens.
As of now Bank of America, Jaguar Cars, and Paramount pictures have been signed on as advertisers.
Since Microsoft launched the MSN Mobile platform in June, it has taken great pains to add content to enhance the browser-based, rich-media experience. Just last week, the company launched an astrology channel and added a spate of new ring tones, wallpapers, games and other content available for download on the portal, which by the way already sports a lot of features anyway!
Broadly, Microsoft’s mobile strategy consists of two parts: developed and developing markets. In areas falling in the first category, such as the United States, Japan and Europe, the software giant is looking to carry into mobile the usage patterns customers have developed for Microsoft products on their PCs.
In still-developing markets such as China, Russia and India, where the mobile phone remains the principal computing device, Microsoft is looking to roll out mobile applications first.
So we will soon see a strategy in India where Microsoft will try and engage us Indians who are accessing the Internet through applications and then look to monetize.