by emckeown
15. June 2010 00:52
So what is iAd and what makes it so different than a regular online ad? iAd is a key feature of the new IOS (IOS4) by Apple and what makes it interesting is that iAd is integrated into the operating system of the new mobile device. This allows for a better user experience and a more seamless transition between the ad and the app that the user is on.
Lets say you are a 3G network and there is an ad that you click on. One of the problems with the current app is that when you click on it, it will take you to another site. However, before that happens it will stop the current app you are in, launch a new app, and then load the site at a snails pace. All of this has the potential to annoy the user and not really entice them to buy the product. Apple has answered this problem by creating its own ad service, iAd, which would make the user experience seamless. If a user clicks on an ad the app then navigates them to the ad in the app they are in. And if they quit out of it they will be right back to where they originally were, making the entire process seamless.
Currently, there are only large firms advertising with iAd as the cost is very high. However, I suspect that more and more small businesses will join that group once it is a bit more affordable. iAd will start serving ads on the first of July.