Ad Operations Online » In-App Ads

WhatRunsWhere Launches First In-App Ad Tracking Service

Otilia Otlacan — Mon, 18 Mar 2013 13:09:58 +0000

Android Data Gathering Tool Allows Advertisers to Track What Ads Competitors are Running – and In Which Apps

SAN DIEGO - Giving advertisers and agencies the ability to track competitors’ use of in-app advertising for the first time, WhatRunsWhere (www.whatrunswhere.com), the service that already enables tracking of online and mobile ad campaigns, has launched a data gathering tool for the Android platform.

Using WhatRunsWhere’s new in-app capability, advertisers can now collect data from more than 20,000 Android apps. The data will provide crucial intelligence about where competitors’ ads are running, which specific ads are running there, who is selling those ads, and other information to help advertisers develop their own cost-effective mobile advertising campaigns.

“This is a significant development, not only for WhatRunsWhere, but the entire Android app market,” said Max Teitelbaum, co-founder and COO of WhatRunsWhere. “Until now, apps have been an informational black hole for marketers seeking to implement effective campaigns. Advertisers and agencies were buying ads blind, with no real performance history data showing what types of ads had worked in what apps. Now, with the introduction of WhatRunsWhere’s in-app tool, advertisers can develop intelligent strategies for deploying their mobile ad dollars, leading to a greater return on investment.”

“The universe of Android-based devices continues to grow at an astounding rate,” Teitelbaum added. “The ability to effectively reach audiences across Android phones, tablets and other devices represents an enormous opportunity for advertisers.”

In September 2012, Google announced that it had activated more than 500 million Android devices globally, with 1.3 new devices activated daily. And Opera Mediaworks reported in February 2013 that Android had “emerged late in the year as the leading mobile phone OS as measured by impression volume.”

The in-app launch follows WhatRunsWhere’s August 2012 entry into the mobile ad space with its acquisition of the UK startup Mobile Ad Spy, a company specializing in global mobile ad intelligence gathering technology.

About WhatRunsWhere

WhatRunsWhere, a competitive intelligence service for online media buying, allows users to look up what advertisers are doing online: where they are running ads, from who they are buying inventory, and what exact ads they are using. WhatRunsWhere also allows users to see what is happening on any online publisher: who is advertising there, who is selling the inventory, and what ads are running. With data from multiple countries and actionable insights from the data, WhatRunsWhere allows users to quickly dissect competitive online advertising campaigns, resulting in reduced risk and a higher ROI.

appMobi’s New playMobi – An In-App Purchasing, Analytics and Social Game Triple Play for iOS, Android, Facebook

Otilia Otlacan — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 14:30:36 +0000

playMobi JavaScript library provides a “Write Once” single API for in-app payments, social engagement, advanced analytics for all HTML5-based game platforms

SAN FRANCISCO – appMobi (www.appmobi.com) announced public beta availability of playMobi™, a cross-platform HTML5-based game development, deployment, and monetization SDK. playMobi gives HTML5 game developers an elegant JavaScript API solution to the many issues they face, including user authentication, in-game payments, social player engagement, scoring and leaderboard management. The core technology of playMobi is based on TapJs, which pioneered the social network category for HTML5 games and was acquired by appMobi in 2011. Developers can apply to join the playMobi beta program at www.appmobi.com/playmobi.

“With a single JavaScript API, playMobi gives HTML5 game developers all the tools they need to create interesting and socially engaging games that run on iOS, Android and Facebook platforms,” said Sam Abadir, CTO of appMobi. “playMobi includes slick in-app purchasing capabilities based on appMobi’s patent-pending ‘1Touch’ technology, making the experience very simple and highly secure. playMobi leverages the rapidly expanding HTML5 platform, offering game developers the unique ability to ‘write it once’ and deploy the same code to iOS, Android, Facebook, and the open Web — fully compliant with each platform’s terms of service.”

Scirra is the developer of “Construct 2,” a leading HTML5 game development environment. Director Ashley Gullen said, “Like appMobi, Scirra believes HTML5 is the gaming platform of the future. We’re excited by the potential of cross-platform IAP, leaderboards and achievements. We look forward to making playMobi really easy to use in games made with Construct 2.”

One interface enables In-App Purchases for all platforms

In an industry “first,” playMobi enables cross-platform in-app purchasing with its 1Touch in-app payment system. When a player makes a purchase, playMobi automatically completes the transaction using the correct in-app-purchase backend system, based on the device in use. When running on iOS, playMobi uses iTunes; on Android, Google Payments; on Facebook, Facebook Credits; and on the Open Web, PayPal. By providing a simple JavaScript programming interface that seamlessly supports e-commerce on the four most popular mobile gaming platforms, playMobi eliminates a huge headache for game developers who want to make money with their games.

Built-in Social Player Engagement Features – Interactive Leaderboards & Badges

playMobi includes social gaming tools that game developers can use to increase the “stickiness” of their games. User login is simple and easy using Facebook Connect. Tools are also provided to create and manage leaderboards, game achievements, player analytics, and cloud-based storage of game status and inventory.

Game Levels, Scores and Inventories Saved across Multiple Devices, even Across Platforms

Because today’s casual gamers increasingly play on multiple devices (both mobile and desktop), playMobi enables multi-device and even multi-platform social game play, supporting HTML5 Web-based games, Facebook games, and iOS and Android hybrid games created with PhoneGap or appMobi. For example, with playMobi, the achievement level and high score from a player’s lunchtime session on his iOS iPhone game will be in place when he plays the Facebook version of the game later on his home laptop. playMobi’s cross device/cross platform social gaming capability is another industry “first.”

Game Analytics Let Developers “Look Over Players’ Shoulders” to Improve Gameplay

playMobi gives HTML5 game developers important new insight into how their games are actually being played. Detailed analytics can be captured as the game is played, isolating trouble spots or levels that are too easy. Because high-score cheating is an issue on the open Web, playMobi allows developers to create rules-based checks on posted scores, eliminating most score hacks and protecting leaderboard validity. Integrating playMobi analytics into a game is simply a matter of adding the playMobi JavaScript library and a few lines of JavaScript code.

playMobi complements appMobi’s existing HTML5 gaming technology, which includes directCanvas, multiSound, and directBox2D, forming an integrated, high performance platform that creates games that perform well as native iOS and Android app store games on Facebook and on the open mobile Web. playMobi is being offered free of charge to a limited number of developers during a short testing phase. Interested developers can sign up for the beta program at www.appmobi.com/playmobi.

About appMobi

A bold proponent of the open mobile Web, appMobi has developed tools and cloud-based services built on HTML5, CSS and JavaScript, creating a unified, open ecosystem that competes favorably with “walled gardens” offered by Apple and Google. In 2011, the company released several of its core technologies as open source, including its cross-platform mobile device API, mobiUs Web browser, and directCanvas HTML5 game acceleration. In December, appMobi was named “Most Promising Tech Company for 2012” by ReadWriteWeb. appMobi’s technology allows mobile app developers to support HTML5 and native app platforms with just one code base, and to deploy and service their apps on multiple platforms, including the open Web. For more information visit http://www.appmobi.com.

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Skype Launches New Advertising Opportunity for the World’s Premier Brands

Otilia Otlacan — Wed, 16 Mar 2011 14:00:24 +0000

Groupon, Nokia, Universal Pictures, and Visa Among First Brands to Advertise on Skype

Skype Establishes Advertising Sales Partnerships in U.S., U.K. and Germany to Sell Advertising to Premier Brands

LUXEMBOURG – Skype announced the launch of advertising in Skype software, which will appear in the “Home” tab of Skype for Windows starting this week. This move represents the first time that advertising will appear in Skype, giving brands a unique opportunity to be part of the Skype experience, which has enabled millions of people around the world to do things together when they’re apart through voice and video calling, instant messaging, conferencing, and more.

Skype has partnered with leading companies: Meebo in the U.S., Ad2One in the U.K., and Ströer Interactive in Germany to sell advertising for Skype in each of their respective markets.

With 145 million average monthly connected users for the fourth quarter of 2010 and 29 million concurrent users at peak times, Skype’s reach and engaged user base makes it an attractive platform for brands to market their products. The first advertisers to sign up with Skype include: Groupon, Nokia, Universal Pictures, and Visa.

“We’re really pleased by the initial response among advertisers. We believe advertising on Skype helps fill a creative gap by giving brands a platform that has broad reach and global engagement, while also supporting large-format, rich and interactive ads,” said Doug Bewsher, Chief Marketing Office for Skype.

Skype “Home” provides a sponsored large masthead space at 650 x 170 pixels expandable to 650 x 340 pixels for advertisers to display ads that can include audio or video. Since the ads are on Skype, advertisers can add a Click & Call button in the ad as another call to action. In addition, it allows people to share the ad to their Facebook or Twitter accounts, and with one-click, ads can also be closed with the “Close Ad” button.

“The user experience on Skype is always job number one. So, we’ve spent a lot of time working through the best way to show advertising in the Skype environment. We believe our daily sponsorship ad from one brand per day is valuable for premier advertisers, but doesn’t detract from the experience for our users,” said Bewsher. “We are just taking our first steps in this space and we expect to test and learn a lot as we move forward.”

“Driving international usage of Visa cards is a key priority for Visa and users of Skype are more likely to travel and transact internationally than the general population,” said Alex Craddock, Head of USA Marketing at Visa Inc. “To be the first to work with both Meebo and Skype in a highly engaged environment is a great opportunity for us.”

“Many people log into Skype as part of their daily routine, just like they check Groupon,” said Rob Solomon, president and COO of Groupon. “We look forward to leveraging Skype’s new display advertising to connect Groupon to an even larger captive audience.”

“Skype is known for great value with its low-cost calls to mobiles and landline phones, and free Skype-to-Skype voice and video calls. We believe that advertising, done in the right way, will help us continue to add more value into the Skype experience as a whole,” said Bewsher.

Skype’s advertising sales partners in the U.S., UK, and Germany will help present advertisers with the opportunity to market on Skype.

“We’re excited to be partnering with Meebo, Ad2One, and Ströer Interactive. They give us great sales teams, reach and meaningful advertiser relationships, right from day one,” said Andy Sims, director of advertising for Skype. “All three partners are leaders in their space, have deep relationships with top advertisers and agencies in their markets, and have experience selling high-impact brand advertising.”

For more advertiser information, go to www.skype.com/go/advertise.

About Skype

Skype is a communications platform provider whose purpose is to break down barriers to communication. With an Internet-connected device, families, friends and colleagues can get together for free with messaging, voice and video. At low cost, they can also call landlines or mobiles virtually anywhere in the world. Skype has recently introduced group video, allowing groups of more than two people to do things together whenever they’re apart. Skype was founded in 2003 and is based in Luxembourg. Skype can be downloaded onto computers, mobile phones and other connected devices for free at www.skype.com.

You can get news and updates from Skype on its blog: blogs.skype.com Twitter: twitter.com/skype or Facebook: www.facebook.com/skype.

DataArt to Develop Mobile Banner Ad Apps for TexTango

Otilia Otlacan — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 18:06:03 +0000

Software development firm creates new mobile application for mobile marketing ad network

NEW YORK – DataArt, a high-end software development company with headquarters in New York and R&D centers in Eastern Europe, was selected by TexTango™, a mobile marketing startup based in San Diego, to build a series of mobile ad applications to revolutionize marketing on mobile phones.

TexTango™ is establishing a new advertising network, via the consumer-to-consumer SMS message communications stream, compensating users for sending text messages. TexTango™ users who send SMS messages with the banner ads attached during the alpha test will initially be entered in a sweepstakes to win a new 2010 Smart® car, and other valuable prizes.

DataArt was hired to develop a mobile application for BlackBerry® and Android™ phones. The engagement includes configuring a management system which contains a correct software build for each supported mobile device operating system and selects the right build for downloading to each participating device.

“We chose DataArt for their demonstrated mobile technology skills,” said Allan Lees, Chief Operations Officer of TexTango™. “We received great support from the start, and their developers provided us with the highest level of professionalism every step of the way.”

Besides the mobile apps, DataArt will work on a Web-based version of the application, which will include incorporating functionality from TexTango™ site and its advertisers, developing a content distribution system, integration with payment, accounting and e-mail management systems as well as database implementation.

The TexTango™ network supports charitable nonprofit organizations displaying their advertisements in rotation, including UNICEF, Rady Children’s Hospital, Empowering Spirits and the Life Rolls On Foundations, and America’s Toothfairy.

“We value clients like TexTango™ for their vision and commitment to a new, big idea,” said Eugene Goland, President of DataArt. “They’re challenging us and their customers to create a better future of mobile advertising options, and we’re happy to bring their vision to life, to become the trusted partner that DataArt strives to be for every client.”

About DataArt:

DataArt (http://dataart.com) is a high-end software engineering firm with industry-specific expertise in financial technology, online travel, telecom, media and mobile sectors. The company specializes in enterprise application development, system integration and business automation tools. In 2006-2010, DataArt has been named one of the world’s top emerging outsourcing providers by BusinessWeek, Global Services 100 and IAOP. Headquartered in New York City, DataArt runs four R&D centers in Russia and the Ukraine, and maintains offices in London, UK.

About TexTango™:

TexTango™ is a privately-held corporation with headquarters in San Diego, California; the leading mobile marketing company “for the people, and by the people,” monetizing the SMS mobile text message channel at the intersection of mobile advertising and consumer communications. More information available and download the free TexTango™ mobile software application at http://TexTango.com.

IAB Highlights Mobile Advertising’s Leading Edge

Otilia Otlacan — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 06:45:37 +0000

Releases “Prevailing Mobile In-Application Advertising Formats”

NEW YORK – The Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB) announced the release of “Prevailing Mobile In-Application Advertising Formats,” the industry’s first benchmark for ad formats being offered in mobile applications. Summarizing the results of a survey of IAB member companies, the document showcases current trends in mobile advertising and covers the seven major mobile/portable application platforms: Android, Blackberry, iPad, iPhone/iPod Touch, Palm, Symbian and Windows Mobile.

The announcement was made at the IAB Mobile Marketplace, an annual event held in New York City focused on providing expert and actionable insight from brands, agencies and publishers on buying and selling, and solving the challenges of, one of the most rapidly evolving forms of digital advertising.

Some of the key components of “Prevailing Mobile In-Application Advertising Formats” include:

- An overview of the most common ad formats currently being sold by mobile app publishers
- The points of emerging similarities and differences in ad sizes among app providers
- The launch of a resource that the IAB will regularly update to help the advertising marketplace keep abreast of widely available ad formats as well as emerging trends as they develop

“The mobile advertising marketplace is moving at lightning speed as consumers embrace new devices,” said Joe Laszlo, Director of Research, IAB, and manager of the IAB Mobile Committee. “‘Prevailing Mobile In-Application Advertising Formats’ is the beginning of the development of a dynamic toolset to help drive growth in mobile advertising.”

“We know from working with our clients that agencies and marketers do need education on the different types of formats currently being supported by publishers,” said Sharon Knitter, Senior Director, Consumer Products, Cars.com and Co-Chair of the IAB Mobile Committee. “Our goal was to take a close look at which formats publishers were currently offering and to establish an ongoing resource for the industry as mobile continues to play a pivotal role in marketing campaigns.”

“We surveyed some of the most significant mobile publishers to highlight the most common ad formats offered in mobile apps,” said Cameron Clayton, VP Mobile and International, The Weather Channel, and Co-Chair of the IAB Mobile Committee. “This report will continue to evolve as the mobile industry continues to innovate and technology provides even greater opportunities to engage with consumers on their mobile devices.”

“Prevailing Mobile In-Application Advertising Formats” is the latest addition to IAB’s work on educating the ecosystem about mobile advertising. This ongoing initiative has included the release of two previous market-making documents:

Mobile Buyers’ Guide
Mobile Platform Status Report

Both of these documents can be reviewed at http://www.iab.net/iab_products_and_industry_services/508676/mobile_guidance

To review “Prevailing Mobile In-Application Advertising Formats,” please go to http://www.iab.net/mobileadformats

About the IAB’s Mobile Committee

The Mobile Advertising Committee of the IAB is comprised of over 140 member companies dedicated to helping develop and expand the mobile space as a viable advertising platform. The committee works to educate marketers and agencies on the strength of mobile advertising as a marketing vehicle. A full list of Committee member companies can be found at: http://www.iab.net/mobile_advertising_committee

About the IAB:

The Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB) is comprised of more than 460 leading media and technology companies who are responsible for selling 86% of online advertising in the United States. On behalf of its members, the IAB is dedicated to the growth of the interactive advertising marketplace, of interactive’s share of total marketing spend, and of its members’ share of total marketing spend. The IAB educates marketers, agencies, media companies and the wider business community about the value of interactive advertising. Working with its member companies, the IAB evaluates and recommends standards and practices and fields critical research on interactive advertising. Founded in 1996, the IAB is headquartered in New York City with a Public Policy office in Washington, D.C. For more information, please visit www.iab.net.

Wizzard Media Podcast Apps Approved with iAds

Otilia Otlacan — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 06:30:20 +0000

PITTSBURGH – Wizzard Media (NYSE Amex: WZE), the world’s leading podcasting network, announced that their podcast iPhone App has been approved and is in the App Store with iAds functionality. Select podcast Apps in the Wizzard network are live now in the iTunes store with inventory being filled with iAds.

iAds are interactive brand advertising campaigns with inventory sold and filled by Apple featuring a higher CPM and ROI revenue potential for Wizzard than current in App advertising initiatives. Wizzard believes its podcast App, with consistent repeat viewers and sustained demographic verticals are best suited to maximize iAd revenue.

“iAds brings another dimension of monetization to our mobile network of podcast Apps,” says Laurie Sims, President, Wizzard Media. “Our network pulls a repeat audience that is highly engaged and invested in our content. This is the optimal audience to take advantage of iAds. Since our deployment of version 1.7 of the Podcast App we have been iOS 4.0 compatible (new iPhone 4) and ready for iAds. Initial tests thus far have indicated high CPMs meeting or exceeding our current levels of campaign monetization.”

“What’s innovative about Apple’s strategy is their ability to handle the deep targeting of the customer based on iTunes data to the benefit of the iAd partners,” says Dave Mansueto, Wizzard Media. “The Apps that stand to benefit the most from Apple’s iAds are those that have high audience retention rates. Wizzard sustains repeat audiences with enhanced demographic verticals so our potential to benefit from iAds is strong. This is, and has always been, the strength of our network. Apple sells and fills the ad inventory with premium brand advertisers allowing Wizzard to focus on improving the experience and growing the audience.”

About Wizzard Media:

Wizzard Media provides podcast publishers with distribution and monetization services. Our clients include Microsoft, National Geographic, Harvard Business Review, Usher, NPR and more than 15,000 others who use Wizzard Media products to measure their podcast audience, deliver popular audio and video entertainment and monetize their content through advertising and App sales. In 2009, the Wizzard Media Network received over 1.4 billion podcast requests from approximately 50 million people worldwide through iPods, iPhones, iTunes, Zune and many other devices and destinations. We are part of a publicly held, Pittsburgh based company with thousands of shareholders and a world-class team. Visit us on the web at www.wizzardsoftware.com/media, email us at contact@wizzard.tv.

US Spending on Mobile Display Ads Will Nearly Quadruple over the Next Five Years, Says ABI Research

Otilia Otlacan — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 06:30:47 +0000

NEW YORK – Mobile advertising is a young and relatively small market today. But over the next five years, spending on mobile display ads in the United States, estimated at just under $313 million today, will almost quadruple to exceed $1.2 billion in 2015.

ABI Research practice director Neil Strother says, “A survey conducted by ABI Research in February found that 28% of the mobile subscribers queried accessed the mobile Internet daily. This is a huge increase over the number doing so just 14 months ago, and is a powerful driver for the mobile marketing and advertising market.”

Mobile display ads – essentially similar to online banner ads – are only one method available to aspiring mobile marketers. The others are:

- Text messaging
- Search advertising
- Ads within applications (in-app)
- Video (streaming and on-demand)

While smartphone usage is a primary driver of this new and still fragmented industry (smartphone penetration in the US currently stands at about 20%), mobile marketing’s potential extends to mobile devices of all kinds.

“Marketers have increasingly been shifting budgets into mobile campaigns,” Strother reports. “This became evident during our research interviews with advertising agency executives, technology vendors and mobile ad network operators, who said they have been seeing year-over-year increases of 25% to 30% in campaign spending.”

Big technology firms are now getting involved, as demonstrated by Apple’s acquisition of Quattro Wireless and Google’s takeover of AdMob. But independent ad networks are also serving this market, companies such as Millennial Media, Jumptap, and Greystripe. “Each of these networks is focused on a somewhat different part of the market,” says Strother, “but in principal they’re open to anybody with money who wants to reach a mobile audience.”

A new ABI Research Market Data product, “Mobile Ad Spending” (http://www.abiresearch.com/research/1005172), provides market data and projections for spending on commercial mobile messaging, mobile display advertising, mobile search, mobile in-application advertising and ad-supported mobile video. The forecast database also examines user adoption for these various types of mobile marketing engagements, and includes five-year forecasts for the advertising inventory for each type of method.

It is a component of the firm’s Mobile Marketing Strategies Service (http://www.abiresearch.com/mobile_marketing.jsp) which also includes Research Reports, ABI Insights, and analyst inquiry support.

ABI Research provides in-depth analysis and quantitative forecasting of trends in global connectivity and other emerging technologies. From offices in North America, Europe and Asia, ABI Research’s worldwide team of experts advises thousands of decision makers through 28 research and advisory services. Est. 1990. For more information visit www.abiresearch.com, or call +1.516.624.2500.

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