As of today, Vodafone Netherlands offers advertising space on its mobile internet portal Vodafone live!. All customers who access the internet via Vodafone live!, will see the banners. Customers who decide to click on a banner to find out more will be directed to a mobile site. Adidas, NS, Peugeot and Johnson&Johnson will be the first to place advertisements on Vodafone live!.
Harry Odenhoven, Director Online Services, Vodafone Netherlands: “Advertisers continuously seek new ways to reach their target group. Most people always carry their mobile with them, just like their keys and wallet, which offers a huge potential. Online marketing is essential for building brands and announcing promotions. The fast development and uptake of mobile internet will turn mobile advertising into a vital component in the marketing communication mix.”
Expectations for the mobile advertising market are high. American consultancy agency Arthur D. Little this week predicted that advertisers in Europe will increase their budgets for marketing products via mobile by 60% yearly. According to recent research by Jupiter Research, the European mobile advertising market will be worth EUR 1.3 billion by 2012.
Mobile bannering is not the first advertising possibility Vodafone offers. Google Mobile Sponsored links have been shown on Vodafone live! for some time. Generating income from mobile advertising is part of Vodafone’s worldwide strategy.
Banner advertisements on Vodafone live! are managed by AdLINK Media and technically enabled by an agreement with Ericsson and MADS. Vodafone soon also offers an opt-out to customers who do not appreciate banners.
About Vodafone Libertel B.V.:
Vodafone is one of the largest mobile communications companies in the Netherlands and is part of the Vodafone Group, the world’s leading international mobile communications group with over 260 million proportionate customers as of 31 March 2008. Vodafone currently has equity interests in 25 countries across five continents and a further 42 partner networks worldwide.