With names such as Tribal Fusion, Olive Media, BV! Media, Gorilla Nation there are certainly a number of online advertising networks for advertisers to use to reach their targeted audiences. Last week Google once opened up Pandora’s box when they sunk $750 million US-based 
AdMob, a mobile advertising network. Interesting to note Apple had also put in a big to acquire AdMob a few weeks early but didn’t manage to put the right deal together. Yesterday news broke that another US-based mobile advertising network Millennial Media, received their third round of funding for $16 million. We see in the next few months what the future of Millennial Media will be but chances are it will be acquired before the end of Q2 2010, most likely by Microsoft or Apple.
One thing that I can’t help but wonder though is who will create the first mobile advertising network in Canada? Olive Media who recently launched a video advertising network is probably in the best position to offer brands this type of solution either through an acquisition or creating their own. There is also Casale Media who has been pretty quiet in Canada over the last few years has said they are going to start to focus more attention on the Canadian market.
With Canada about to get a few new wireless providers the opportunity to help connect brands with consumers is about to get pretty hot!
Hey Dave, Sympatico launched a Canadian-targeted mobile ad network nearly 2 years ago: Sympaticomobile.ca
Is it Sympatio (Bell’s) technology or is it a Microsoft solution from when it was Sympatico/ MSN?
Hey Dave- Some insight! Tribal Fusion in partnership with Greystripe has had an active mobile ad network in Canada for almost 1 year. We’re seeing great traction and combining the strenghts of a top tier ad network like Tribal Fusion and one of the dominant mobile networks in Greystripe has provided advertisers a full mobile+online solution in which to reach the Canadian audience. Let me know if you want more information.
Elliot – just to clarify, I meant a Canadian “based” mobile advertising network. Unless I’m mistaken both Tribal Fusion and Greystripe are US-based. We will be doing some events and editorial content around advertising networks in the coming months so feel free to contact me!
Dave, Polar Mobile is interesting in that they create their own mobile inventory based on the applications that they develop for some major Canadian Publishers. The applications (CanadianLiving, THN, Macleans) basically pull content from these publishers onto an app that lives within your BB or iphone. they create a lot of inventory based on the fact that some of the apps have over 100,000 downloads. They also have rights to sell this mobile inventory for these canadian publishers. Check it out!
I think you’re right though – lots of US networks with Canadian eyeballs (dont forget Third Screen Media and Quattro) but no pure cdn pubs.
Jean – Would you put Polar Mobile more in line with Spree or Viigo?
I give it till June before we see some type of change on the mobile ad network side.
I had never heard of Quattro but will check them out. Third Screen Media seems to more be based in Canada but focus solely in the US or over seas based on what I’m seeing.