Yet another Google (NSDQ: GOOG) property, Google Earth, is getting ads. The move comes as Google has introduced advertising over the last year to a set of its properties that were previously unmonetized, including Google Finance, Google Image Search, and even its “search suggest function”; the company has also lately emphasized geo-targeted advertising on Google Maps. Until now, Google generated revenue from Google Earth solely by charging some enterprises, meaning advertisers could only target users by other means, including giant rooftop billboards.
Digital Inspiration, which first reported on the Google Earth ads, points out that this is Google’s first foray into bringing AdSense ads to the desktop, since Google Earth is desktop software. The tech site also remarks that Google explicitly forbids software developers from distributing AdSense ads via desktop apps and speculates that this could therefore be the harbinger of change in that policy. That, potentially, could lead to a proliferation of ad-supported free desktop apps.
(Already, arch rival Microsoft (NSDQ: MSFT) has promised to introduce an ad supported basic version of Office that will come pre-loaded on new PCs. It will obviously not use AdSense).
In statement, Google says it is doubling down on the geographically-targeted ad market: “Google Maps and Google Earth create both strategic and indirect revenue effects for Google. We continue to look for ways to expand revenue potential for both, including placing display text ads in Google Maps. We think geographically-targeted ads benefit people and create value for advertisers and are looking at ways to do that.”
From: PaidContent
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