We already told you about the UK banning Apple’s “just the internet” ad, and why they were wrong. Well, the BBC is reporting yet another Apple iPhone 3G television ad has just been yanked off the UK airwaves by the British government’s advertising standards watchdog group. Why? For exaggerating the iPhone 3G’s speed.
The advert boasted the new 3G model was “really fast” and showed it loading internet pages in under a second. The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) upheld complaints by 17 people who said the TV advert had misled them as to its speed.
Seriously? I would love to meet the 17 people who complained that the speed of the iPhone 3G did not match the above commercial. [Ed- ladies and gentlemen, Paul Thurrott!] I understand that the phone is nowhere near being that fast but do they not realize that is a 30 second advertisement displaying the top features of the iPhone 3G. Maybe I am crazy but I like to think I have the common sense to know the difference between a 30 advertisement and reality.
Well if you are like me, you’d want to get some insight from at least one of the 17 people who complained, then let me introduce you to a man named Roger Browning. It seems he did not have anything better to do with his time but to get “revenge” for having his own iPhone 3G stolen. Yes, you heard me correctly, “revenge”. Be sure to check out the link to read his story.
Sound off in the comments, we are curious to see what our readers have to say about this!
Have you been noticing more and more advertisements while using your favorite apps or while browsing the net on iPhone optimized sites?
According to AdMob, a company that provides advertising solutions that are created for the iPhone:
“Ads on the iPhone deliver strong engagement for advertisers with triple, on average, the already high click-through-rates seen on mobile devices. The company’s new rich media ad units designed for the iPhone have been live for just over a month and now has a reach of more than 100 million impressions worldwide each month.”
That seems like big business if indeed true:
Pay-per-click ads start at 30 cents; AdMob expects the market to settle around 40-50 cents per click, and is offering developers a 50% cut. Brand ads cost a minimum $30 per 1,000 impressions (CPM), and AdMob takes a 40% cut.
What does this all mean? Be ready to start seeing more ads on our iPhones. Now if Apple implemented a way for users to try apps before they buy, instead of forcing the developers to make two versions, one free and one paid, maybe all these ads would not be necessary. Personally, I do not mind the ads as long as they do not interfere with the main function of the app or web site. On the other hand, if it’s free, can you really complain about a few ads?
The developers are not getting much in the way of compensation, so it is only fair for the them to get some cash in their pockets for their efforts. They deserve it.
Already seen Dark Knight like 5 times and itching for some new content to fill your Saturday night? Well, if you’re into short form, Apple has your fix of three all new, all App Store-focused new iPhone ads.
Featuring Lonely Planet phrases, the Cro-Mag rally game, and the location aware Vicinity app, the ads highlight how quickly and elegantly App Store downloads and installs work (insert your own crash joke here), and how the Phone App is still king — interrupting your conversation, gaming, and sightseeing whenever a call comes in.
Continuing to showcase function — almost the polar opposite of the Mac “Switcher” ads — these make for a pretty smart next step in iPhone marketing, especially when it comes to the new tag line:
The iPhone Blog merged with the Phone different site in May of 2008. Both sites were founded on a premise that comes one from one of Apple's old slogans: Think different. The iPhone Blog: for people who dare to phone different.
