Admob is sold to Google for $750 million

Mon, 11/09/2009 - 10:59am — Seth Weintraub

$750 million for the mobile advertising company started three years ago. Mobile is hot, thanks to the iPhone. Don't take it from us. In the words of Admob's founder:

Then came the iPhone. Suddenly, Apple solved so many problems that had plagued mobile for so long. They showed all of us the way forward and their efforts have led to a landslide of rapid improvements in our space. We were so excited by the promise the iPhone represented that we shifted a significant portion of our attention to that device in its very early days. We launched the first iPhone ad units focused on the web and quickly added the capability to run ads in applications. Now with the addition of excellent devices from Palm, Nokia, RIM, and plethora of Android powered smartphones, we have all the preconditions necessary for what will be a tidal wave of mobile browsing and app usage. But let there be no mistake. Our business, and the mobile industry in general, owes Apple a debt of gratitude.

The deal also makes Google a little bit more scary in the mobile space now that they own a platform and the lion's share of the advertising on other platforms.

( Filed Under:

iPhone - iPod

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Comments

I don't care what anyone

Mon, 11/09/2009 - 11:31am — 9to5Mac Noob (not verified)

I don't care what anyone says, Google is evil. I can't bring myself to trust them. Microsoft is just greedy. They will do anything to make a buck, so I don't see them as anything more than money-hungry fools. Google, on the other hand, is not just about money. There's something very unsettling about all the information they have.

I second that. I started

Mon, 11/09/2009 - 12:38pm — 9to5Mac Noob (not verified)

I second that. I started fearing google awhile ago especially when they publicly refused to "censor" photoed people in their Google Street Maps (although now they disguise the face). I started using other products when there are alternatives even though if I have to put down a few bucks

I personally welcome our new

Mon, 11/09/2009 - 12:10pm — Erik (not verified)

I personally welcome our new overlords.

Google is just a better seller.

Mon, 11/09/2009 - 12:26pm — 9to5Mac Noob (not verified)

Yes, in the on-line space the advertising king is Google. But as a person who buys on-line advertising, I will simply go with whoever gives me the biggest bang for the buck.

I find it humorous that people are suggesting that Google has some kind of lock or monopoly on advertising.

The fact is that anyone with moderate tech skills can set up and charge for internet advertising - all without Google. Yes, Google has some kick-ass technology, and they make web advertising easy, and they have low prices. But that's where their advantage begins and ends. There are many other web advertising firms out there - some have great features at a good price, and others suck rocks and/or are over-priced.

Traditional media advertising (Radio, TV, print) has always had a small number clear market leaders - and thousands of small players. I'm not sure why the on-line space should be different.

Just on this 9to5mac page I note ads from Crate&Barrel, BestBuy, Roxio, Amazon, and Microsoft. Honestly, I don't care where they buy their ads from.

Google could be the new IBM/MIcrosoft nightmare for Apple

Mon, 11/09/2009 - 3:31pm — Jean-Pierre Bobbaers (not verified)

I am reading about the Android OS left and right. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Android_(operating_system)

Including today the new deal that Google bought Admob. http://news.cnet.com/8301-30684_3-10393271-265.html

I believe the real enemy for the iPhone/Apple could become Google.

Apple is ages behind when it comes to online applications of their own with their Mobile Me.

They charge money for it. 99$ a year. http://www.apple.com/mobileme/

Google is developing ALL there services in a web browser.

That means they don't have the problem that Microsoft has to be compatible with all the suppliers of hardware.

Google builds more and more integrated services for on the road.

In the end Apple will loose this battle since they don't have anything for on the road except their 100.000 applications.

All these applications builders can move overnight to fill Google's application store, and leave Apple behind.

Google will charge (in the beginning) nothing and get their money from adds.

Application builders will get a piece of the add cake. With Apple they only get once money if they don't add admob ;-).

Conclusion:

On the move you primarily need Mail, GPS, Compass, Google info , reading MS word excel, Yellow pages, calling (Google voice and video), Youtube (owned by Google) and small smart applications that use all the before in a creative way.

ALL this is OWNED or CONTROLLED by Google.

Result: Third companies will build dirt cheap hardware that runs the free Android OS and uses the full Google eco web based software system.

Apple will get pushed in the corner with Music and desktop applications and sexy (expensive) hardware.

Music companies would love to see their monopoly broken by somebody.

Steve said: "it's the software stupid". Google has more software for the road then Apple.

I believe it's time to start moving your stocks by middle 2010 from Apple towards Google.

Keep this mail for future reference ;-)

Regards

or maybe Apple could be the

Mon, 11/09/2009 - 4:26pm — 9to5Mac Noob (not verified)

or maybe Apple could be the new IBM/MIcro$oft nightmare for Google... after the Apple media center is ready!

How funny, Apple always pick up the right guys in right time and other companies buy second hand ideas :)

I don't know what your

Mon, 11/09/2009 - 6:19pm — 9to5Mac Noob (not verified)

I don't know what your smoking, but Developers had know interest in building crippled cloud software for the iphone at the start. Why would Goggle think this was a good idea? Don't forget about Microsoft/Danger cloud service Crisis. Who knows what Goggle will charge for storage once the sheep get addicted follow the wolf!