Free cellphones for consumers - makes (ad)sense
November 13th, 2006 | by amarfresh |Now that I have your attention…
Google CEO, Eric Schmidt has indicated that given the increase of mobile advertising, mobile phones should be free.
Schmidt said Saturday that as mobile phones become more like handheld computers and consumers spend as much as eight to 10 hours a day talking, texting and using the Web on these devices, advertising becomes a viable form of subsidy.
I’m sure that the Verizon’s and Cingular’s of the world are loving that comment. No wonder they are choosing their own search platforms and not Google. But not everyone is scared of the big G, at least in Europe.
While Google has no plans to giveaway mobile phones their WiFi projects may give rise to a new type of mobile provider and advertising partner.