Yahoo to run search ads on Virgin Mobile portal

The Virgin Media mobile portal will be available to consumers on the 8 December, and features news, music, video, games and entertainment.

Yahoo! oneSearch is specifically designed for mobile users, returning results directly in the first screen, removing the need for consumers to navigate through search listings.

For instance, when a search for a football team is entered, Yahoo! oneSearch returns the latest scores, fixtures, team profiles, news, images and a link to the team's website.  Alternatively, if a user searches for a film, Yahoo! returns showing times at local cinemas, reviews, news articles and information on the cast

Yahoo! and Virgin Media plan to deliver mobile sponsored search results and contextually served sponsored listings within the Virgin Media mobile portal early 2009.

Commenting on the partnership, Graeme Oxby, managing director of Virgin Mobile said: “Our new Virgin Media mobile portal brings the web to consumers’ pockets. A great mobile search service is a crucial part of this and by integrating Yahoo! oneSearch into the portal, we are ensuring our customers have all the information they need at their fingertips. Whether you’re checking the Saturday football scores or your favourite web services, you’re guaranteed to find what you need with ease.”

"Working closely with our 70 mobile operator partners, Yahoo! oneSearch is a starting point for mobile consumers globally, revolutionising the mobile search experience by delivering relevant answers to queries that mobile users have while on-the-go,” said Mitch Lazar, managing director of Connected Life Europe, Yahoo!. "Together, Virgin Media and Yahoo! are enhancing the user’s mobile Internet experience in the UK while creating unique opportunities for advertisers to reach a highly-engaged audience of mobile consumers.”

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