Microsoft unveils mobile display ads
- Added:
- May 23, 2008
Microsoft has launched mobile display advertising across its Hotmail and Messenger platforms.
The move was announced at advance08, Microsoft’s annual advertiser and publisher event.
The event was also used to announce the expanded market availability of Windows Live, and upcoming plans for its Live Search for Mobile offering.
Windows Live Mobile users in France, the UK, Spain and the US will see banner ad placements http://advertising.microsoft.com/uk/home across these two services.
All ads placed on Windows Live Messenger and Windows Live Hotmail will adhere to Mobile Marketing Association (MMA) guidelines.
Film studio Paramount is one of the first advertisers in the UK to use these new ad formats.
Chris Ward, Commercial Director of Microsoft Digital Advertising Solutions commented: “With over 220.5m mobile subscribers in Europe alone, mobile advertising is a small but rapidly growing market and we feel there is huge potential for advertisers to reach out and engage with consumers in this space.”
Steve Hunt, Head of Media at Paramount Pictures, said: “We were keen to invest in a high-impact and creative ad campaign that would excite and engage mobile users, so we are delighted to be the first brand to advertise on Windows Live Mobile. Paramount is always looking for new and innovative ways to reach our consumers and we’re excited to be leading the way in creating a truly digital experience for the mobile consumer.”
In addition to the launch of mobile display advertising on Windows Live, Microsoft announced plans to expand its mobile advertising offerings to include Live Search.
The company’s mobile search advertising offering is currently in an invitation-only beta for the United States, and will be broadly available in beta form in the future.
The expansion in mobile follows Microsoft;s acquisition of mobile advertising firm ScreenTonic last year.
Also announced at advance08, Microsoft announced the rebranding of its entire collection of Microsoft’s advertising assets under the umbrella brand of Microsoft Advertising.
The new brand unifies all of the tools and solutions that Microsoft offers advertisers, agencies and publishers, encompassing Atlas, AdECN, adCenter DRIVEpm, Massive and ScreenTonic, as well media offerings: MSN, Windows Live, Xbox, Office Online.