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Google Hopes Mobile Ad Rates Beat Desktop Standard

Investors and online advertising experts may want to consider for a moment what, exactly, has contributed to Google’s stupendous financial success (current market cap: $180 billion).  Now consider this: Google thinks mobile ad rates might surpass what’s come to be deemed the industry standard. According to Reuters, Vic Gundotra, a vice president of engineering at Google, announced...

Droid Beats iPhone In Sales Comparison

There’s good and bad news for Google this morning with respect to Android and the mobile market.  In terms of how many units were sold during their first 74 days of availability, it seems the Droid beat the iPhone to the million-unit mark, but the Nexus One is lagging far behind. That’s the state of things according to Flurry, which claims that applications using its analytics tools...

Google Product Search for Mobile Showing When Items are in Stock

Users of the mobile version of Google Product Search can now see if items are in stock at a local store from select retailers. These retailers include: Best Buy, Sears, Williams-Sonoma, Pottery Barn, and West Elm. Product listings from these retailers will have blue dots that can be tapped to see an "in stock nearby" link, which takes you to a seller’s page where it will either say...

Gowalla 2.0 Launches for iPhone

Gowalla is a service that has been getting a lot of buzz lately. If you’re not familiar with it, it’s a location-based social networksing service that comes in the form of mobile apps. Gowalla announced today, the availability of Gowalla 2.0 for the iPhone 3G and 3GS platforms. Gowalla highlights the following new features with this version: - Design – Gowalla developers have created...

Critical: Improve Your Mobile Search and Advertising Strategy

A Google exec recently said, "In three years’ time, desktops will be irrelevant." That’s debatable, but there’s no question that mobile use will have grown much more than it already has. Based on comments in a recent keynote, Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer doesn’t seem to think PC use is going to drop too much, but he did say, "Mobile queries are just going to keep...

Twitter Location Features Rolling Out

Last fall, Twitter started including geolocation information in its API, but it was not available through Twitter.com. That appears to be in the process of changing now. This week, Twitter has been rolling out (it appears to still be in the process) geolocation info on tweets at Twitter.com. Various reports from users have been circulating, with those who have access to the feature pointing to a little...

Motorola Goes Bing on Android-Based Devices

Motorola has announced a "global" alliance with Microsoft, which will see Bing used as the default search engine on Motorola Android-based devices. The move begins in China, where obviously there is some turmoil between Google and that country, but again, this is being called a "global" alliance that is "launching" in China. Motorola says that users will get a pre-loaded...

YouTube Launches New Mobile Ads

Google is launching ads on the home page, search page, and browser page on the mobile version of YouTube in the U.S. and Japan. "This is a great way for advertisers to reach YouTube viewers across multiple platforms," says Google Strategic Partner Development Manager Taylor Cascino. "In fact, at launch YouTube will immediately provide one of the largest audiences for a mobile ad campaign...

MySpace Has Most Popular Social App for Android

MySpace announced today that it has the most popular social app in the Android Market, and the third most popular app on Android altogether. "Our deep integration with the Android platform is one of the reasons why we’ve seen a surge in usage," says MySpace’s Scott Goldberg. "Unique to this app, we have three home screen widgets. One of them allows voice-enabled status updates....

Yahoo “Infusing Mobile Through The Organization”

Yahoo’s approach to the mobile market is about to change in a very noticeable way.  Indeed, Yahoo’s mobile division will more or less cease to exist as a separate entity, with mobile becoming something of a company-wide concern. One important note: no layoffs have been announced.  "We are infusing mobile throughout the organization, rather than having a specific team for...

Microsoft Launches First App for Google’s Android

At his keynote at SMX in Santa Clara this week, Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer made it pretty clear that the company wants more people using its products regardless of the device they’re using. While his focus in that address was mainly on Microsoft’s Bing search engine, the company is keeping with this philosophy, as it has now released its first Android App. Microsoft announced the release...

Google Exec Gives Desktops Three More Years

Never mind the associated cubicles, desks, chairs, and monitors that, for many people, have become part of everyday life.  A Google exec believes desktop computers will be irrelevant in three years’ time. No twisting of words or misinterpretations took place here.  John Herlihy, Google’s vice president of global ad operations, simply said at University College Dublin’s Digital...

Google Gesture Search Lets Android Users Draw Searches

Google has a new way for Android users (2.0 and up) to search on their mobile devices. The company has introduced a new Google Labs application that lets users search for apps, bookmarks, music tracks, etc. by drawing alphabet gestures on their touch screen. "Say you want to call your friend Anne," explains Google Research Scientist Yang Li. "Just open Gesture Search and draw letter...

How Much Is Mobile Going to Change the Search Market?

More people have the web in the palm of their hands than ever before. Smartphone usage isn’t exactly slowing down, and for that reason, the search market might get shaken up considerably in the coming months. Google has long dominated the search market, and to this day continues to do so. There is nothing indicating that will change in the near future, but the rise of smartphones and deals among...

Google Improves Click-To-Call Ads With Phone Extensions

A little more than a month ago, Google introduced click-to-call phone numbers in local ads on smartphones.  Now, the popular program’s undergoing an expansion as Google’s made it easier for large companies to take advantage of the offering. A post on the Inside AdWords blog explained today, "[W]e’re bringing the same click-to-call benefits to national advertisers through...