ChasNote

Back in November, the NY Times reported that Apple filed a patent for un-skip-able ads for iPhones and iPods. Speculation at the time by ChasNote reader RolfSF:

“methinks this is geared more toward some of the ad-supported software models, perhaps giving some ‘free’ iphone apps a means to be free for a price.”

RolfSF was listening in on Apple’s earnings call earlier today and heard something that confirms his speculation: Peter Oppenheimer said the company had acquired Quattro to “offer developers a seamless way to make more money” in their apps, particularly free apps.

You have to wonder if Apple plans to staff an ad sales team.

From Ad Age:

“The cost of getting individual hand-held users to respond to a recent mobile ad campaign ranged from 67 cents to $85 dollars each, according to Michael Collins, CEO of the Joule mobile marketing agency. ….he cited the example of wild cost variations to emphasize the barriers of complexity and inconsistency that continue to hobble to growth of the mobile ad industry.”