iAd to offer legitimate competition to Google's online advertising world

Preview: Gizmodo review of iAd

This Spring, Apple released iAd as its attempt to enter the online advertising world-the mobile market in particular. In the US, online advertising has long been Google's little baby despite competition from the newly formed Microsoft/Yahoo deal. In my mind though, as a browsing consumer, I don't consider online display advertising to be particularly effective. Either a pop-up ad appears when I don't mean for it to b/c I accidentally let my mouse pointer roll over a hyperlink, I'm online with a purpose and don't have time to notice what usually end-up being static ads, or I'm online leisurely where nothing successfully captures my attention. As I summize, Google has failed to use me as a marketing statistic to potential advertising customers.

Apple on the other hand, has developed a new mobile advertising platform called iAd. I currently do not own an iPhone, yet Apple's account of the user interaction with the app and iAd supported advertisement promises to be an [optional] rich media experience. Apple suggests there will be quality user-experience control in the ad development, and that the ad should not be in a position to alienate the mobile user. I can't wait to see how this holds true. Nonetheless, iAd developed ads are supposed to communicate more than a simple message/slogan...they are supposed to deliver a unique "branding" experience worthy of the Apple platform.