Slash LaneApple recently posted a new job listing seeking a "Senior Interactive Web Developer" for a position located in Boston. The job description provides some insight into Apple's future plans in the advertising business, stating that the iPhone maker seeks to "redefine" ads on mobile devices.
The position will have the person develop a front-end Web user interface for "Development of compelling, interactive digital advertising experiences." The Senior Interactive Developer will "be involved in client discussions, proof-of-concept coding, working with and adding to the existing framework, production deliverables and more."
"Strong web technology fundamentals are a must, but you have more," Apple added. "You’ve worked with code libraries and frameworks and have extended them to suit your needs, sometimes creating your own."
The description may be enough to suggest that Apple, by designing a proprietary mobile advertising framework to be included as part of future versions of the iPhone Software Developers Kit, could make it as trivial for developers to add advertisement placements to their applications as it currently is to add buttons or interface controls.
This would free developers to focus on improving the functionality and quality of their applications without worrying about monetization techniques, which would instead be handled by Apple and made accessible via simple function calls. Once implemented, it's also likely that Apple will offer developers — or the software publishers they work for — flexibility in customizing and filtering advertisements through an addition to the iTunes Connect web interface.
The details should come as no surprise following Apple's acquisition of mobile advertising company Quattro Wireless early this year. Andy Miller, former CEO of Quattro Wireless, was named vice president of mobile advertising with Apple.
Last month, Apple also hired two experienced mobile advertising employees for high-profile positions in Europe. In Apple's quarterly earnings conference call in January, Apple Chief Financial Officer Peter Oppenheimer said the purchase of Quattro Wireless was a step in allowing developers a "seamless way to make more money on their apps, especially free apps."
While Apple is new to the ad business, its App Store for the iPhone, iPod touch and iPad includes a wealth of free applications available that are often supported by advertising. And with the huge success of the App Store, now with more than 140,000 options and counting, Apple sees advertising as an important revenue opportunity in the company's future.
Prior to the Quattro purchase, Apple allegedly had discussions with competing mobile ad agency AdMob. That firm was eventually acquired by Google for $750 million, and the deal is pending approval from the U.S. Federal Trade Commission.
Christine McKee
Andrew O'Hara
William Gallagher
Malcolm Owen
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Apple's push into the mobile advertising space could include tools to allow developers to simply integrate advertisements into App Store software for the iPhone and iPad.
Apple recently posted a new job listing seeking a "Senior Interactive Web Developer" for a position located in Boston. The job description provides some insight into Apple's future plans in the advertising business, stating that the iPhone maker seeks to "redefine" ads on mobile devices.
The position will have the person develop a front-end Web user interface for "Development of compelling, interactive digital advertising experiences." The Senior Interactive Developer will "be involved in client discussions, proof-of-concept coding, working with and adding to the existing framework, production deliverables and more."
The details should come as no surprise following Apple's acquisition of mobile advertising company Quattro Wireless early this year. Andy Miller, former CEO of Quattro Wireless, was named vice president of mobile advertising with Apple.
Last month, Apple also hired two experienced mobile advertising employees for high-profile positions in Europe. In Apple's quarterly earnings conference call in January, Apple Chief Financial Officer Peter Oppenheimer said the purchase of Quattro Wireless was a step in allowing developers a "seamless way to make more money on their apps, especially free apps."
While Apple is new to the ad business, its App Store for the iPhone, iPod touch and iPad includes a wealth of free applications available that are often supported by advertising. And with the huge success of the App Store, now with more than 140,000 options and counting, Apple sees advertising as an important revenue opportunity in the company's future.
Prior to the Quattro purchase, Apple allegedly had discussions with competing mobile ad agency AdMob. That firm was eventually acquired by Google for $750 million, and the deal is pending approval from the U.S. Federal Trade Commission.
I guess there's no escape from ads and junk mail.
Apple's push into the mobile advertising space could include tools to allow developers to simply integrate advertisements into App Store software for the iPhone and iPad. Apple recently posted a new job listing seeking a "Senior Interactive Web Developer" for a position located in Boston. The job description provides some insight into Apple's future plans in the advertising business, stating that the iPhone maker seeks to "redefine" ads on mobile devices..
Could also provide an easy way to send ads for future ePub builders particularly future eZines which might want another revenue channel / option for their product (blogs=adsense / magazines=ads).
The article suggests that Apple is getting into advertising to profit from ad revenue, but I suspect that might not be quite right. I suspect Apple is only doing this to help out developers and to make sure that their costs of distributing free apps through the apps store are covered (perhaps they'll do the standard 30/70 split on ad revenue like they do on app prices).
I seriously doubt that Apple is attempting to turn advertising into a major profit center. I bet the app store continues to be a break-even business for apple, and that they make most of their money by selling devices.
As iPhone developer, I took an interest in the title of the news and what I found in the article? Nothing. No word about these tools, no word why they are simple, no word what' the difference between Apple tools and current Quattro Wireless ad integration. Only blah, blah, blah...
As iPhone developer, I took an interest in the title of the news and what I found in the article? Nothing. No word about these tools, no word why they are simple, no word what' the difference between Apple tools and current Quattro Wireless ad integration. Only blah, blah, blah...
It's been updated. Looks like they're developing a set of Ad APIs or a whole framework that will make it as easy to place ads in apps as it is to place iPhone interface buttons, etc.
K