Cell Phone Ads Slowed by Privacy Worries

Carriers love targeted marketing, but are afraid to tick you off

By Nick McMaster, Newser Staff

Posted Jan 1, 2008 7:50 PM CST

(Newser) – With the mobile Internet and GPS location-based services expanding, marketers and mobile phone companies are anxious to tap into a new level of targeted advertising. But, the AP reports, carriers are proceeding with caution in implementing the ads because they don’t want the perception of a privacy invasion to spook customers.

It’s a tricky balance: customers might like receiving a Starbucks promotion when walking by the coffee franchise, but find a slew of such ads invasive. And the Facebook “Beacon” fiasco has shown how targeting wedded to subscriber information can be an unwelcome mix. "The technology is absolutely there,” said one mobile ad exec. “The players have to become more comfortable. We believe they are doing so rapidly."

GeoVector's "Buddy Finder" allows you to use a cell phone or PDA to locate a friend who is using the same technology through GPS locators. (KRT Photos)

Yahoo is investing heavily in the area of GPS-related advertising. (Getty Images)

A Nokia N95 GPS-enabled camera phone. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) (Getty Images)

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Cell Phone Ads Slowed by Privacy Worries

Carriers love targeted marketing, but are afraid to tick you off

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Facebook Turning Your Status Updates Into Ads

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Microsoft Launches Cell Phone Ad Sales

Graphic or text banners can be shown on MSN Mobile portal

$$$ Thrown at Buzz Drive Facebook's Beacon Plans

But it's proving difficult to get right on social networking sites

Facebook Backs Off Beacon

Switches ad platform to 'opt-in' format after users decry involuntary 'sharing'

Facebook Fights Anti-Privacy Charges

Battle with MoveOn hinges on the meaning of 'private'

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OTHER STORIES ON OUR RADAR

advertising • cell phones • Facebook • GPS • Beacon • Internet advertising • mobile advertising

MOST POPULAR STORIES

[ By Views ]

[ By Comments ]

More Newser Stories

Facebook Turning Your Status Updates Into Ads

Whether you like it or not

Microsoft Launches Cell Phone Ad Sales

Graphic or text banners can be shown on MSN Mobile portal

$$$ Thrown at Buzz Drive Facebook's Beacon Plans

But it's proving difficult to get right on social networking sites

Facebook Backs Off Beacon

Switches ad platform to 'opt-in' format after users decry involuntary 'sharing'

Facebook Fights Anti-Privacy Charges

Battle with MoveOn hinges on the meaning of 'private'

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Newser By Users

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