Does Google’s Introduction Of YouTube Ads Signal The Imminent Arrival Of A Google Phone?
This post in CBC News seems to think so. It suggests Google decision to introduce ads to YouTube videos can be read as an indication that Google is indeed gearing up to introduce an ad-supported mobile phone. The speculation follows yesterday’s announcement that the search giant was attaching semitransparent “overlay” advertisements to the bottom of selected YouTube videos. (Even better, these ads –- which take up a small portion of the screen — are designed to be relevant to the user’s interests and simply disappear after a few seconds if the user doesn’t click on them.)
This development could be the missing piece of the puzzle that will allow Google to place ads on its phones without turning off users. Analysts point out that Google now has the capabilities mix to subtly display ads on mobile phones –- they question now is: Will a Google phone follow?
Predictably, we’re left hanging. Technology consultant Rob Enderle was quoted as saying: “It very well could be that you could use a derivative of this to handle cell phones. It does look like Google is getting closer to bringing out that property.”
That makes it a definite maybe. (We reported on more Google phone rumors here.)
August 24th, 2007 at 2:31 am
I don’t understand why a video ad format makes people think phone. How much time do people spend looking at their phone? The notion that there is enough time spent watching a phone screen that video ads could fund a free Google phone service is poorly thought out.
Check out the Ad-Supported Music Central blog:
http://ad-supported-music.blogspot.com/
August 24th, 2007 at 5:20 pm
Checked out the blog Marc – good stuff! I agree the CBC post is jumping the gun. We now the phone is coming – but we can’t be certain about the appeal of ad-funded content. For example, the IBM report (that you also blogged about at your site) points out a significant number of users would pay NOT to see ads.
Peggy
August 25th, 2007 at 5:45 am
Using similiar YouTube ads in a Google Phone… that is an interesting idea. The ads aren’t going to help YouTube very much -> http://www.russellheimlich.com/blog/why-youtube-video-ads-will-ultimately-fail/ but using this technology in a phone that was location aware would be rather interesting (as well as a smart move)