MAM
Forecast sees big payoff for Google’s mobile ads
MUMBAI: Google will sell more mobile advertising than the rest of its rivals combined for the second straight year, according to a new forecast that highlights the expansion of the internet search leader‘s moneymaking competency from personal computers to smartphones and tablets.
The report released on Thursday by the research firm eMarketer projects Google Inc will generate nearly $8.9 billion in mobile ad revenue throughout the world in 2013. The figure reflects the projected amount that Google will retain after paying commissions to its ad partners.
The prediction calls for Google to hold a 56 per cent share of the overall mobile ad market, which is expected to approach $16 billion this year. In 2012, Google accounted for 52 per cent, or $4.6 billion, of the worldwide mobile ad market, according to eMarketer.
Facebook Inc, the owner of the largest online social network, is expected to rank a distant second in mobile advertising this year with about $2 billion in revenue from phones and tablets, eMarketer predicted. Although still far behind Google, Facebook has been making rapid inroads in the mobile market. Last year, Facebook sold less than $500 million in mobile advertising.
The report marks the first time that eMarketer has released digital ad numbers spanning the entire globe. The firm‘s previous estimates, which are closely watched in the industry, have been confined to the US ad market.
eMarketer‘s figures are intriguing because Google doesn‘t disclose how much of its total ad revenue flows from the rapidly growing ad market. Google‘s success in mobile advertising stems from its ability to establish its internet search engine and other services, such as digital maps, Gmail and the Chrome browsers, as frequently used applications on mobile devices.
The company accomplished that largely by forging a partnership with Apple Inc when that company‘s iPhone came out in 2007. Google then baked its services into Android, a free operating system now running on more than 900 million mobile devices.
Android‘s success transformed Google into a competitive threat to the iPhone and iPad, prompting Apple to dump some of Google‘s services as built-in programs on those devices. But many iPhone and iPad users are still relying on Google products by installing apps on their Apple devices.
Brands
Uidai partners with Google to help users locate Aadhaar centres
Verified Aadhaar centres to appear on Maps with services and access info
MUMBAI: Finding an Aadhaar centre may soon be as easy as finding your favourite café. In a move aimed at making public services more accessible, the Unique Identification Authority of India has partnered with Google to display authorised Aadhaar centres on Google Maps. The feature, expected to roll out in the coming months, will allow residents to locate verified centres quickly and confidently.
More than 60,000 Aadhaar centres, including state of the art Aadhaar Seva Kendras, will be mapped. When users search on Google Maps, they will be directed to authorised facilities rather than unverified listings, helping curb misinformation and confusion.
The listings will do more than drop a pin. Users will be able to see the nature of services offered at each centre, whether it is adult enrolment, child enrolment, or limited to address and mobile number updates. Details such as operating hours, parking availability and divyang friendly infrastructure will also be shown wherever applicable.
Uidai CEO Bhuvnesh Kumar, said the collaboration is part of the authority’s continued effort to improve ease of living for Aadhaar holders by making authorised centres simpler and faster to navigate.
The partnership will deepen in its next phase, with Uidai using Google Business Profile to manage information and respond directly to public feedback. Looking ahead, the two organisations are also exploring the option of enabling appointment bookings through the Google Maps interface, potentially allowing residents to plan their visits with greater efficiency.
Google India country head, strategic partnerships Roli Agarwal, said integrating verified Aadhaar centres would help millions access trusted services with confidence, bringing essential government infrastructure closer to the people who need it most.
If all goes to plan, a routine Aadhaar update may soon begin not with a queue, but with a search bar.
