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Today, the mobile advertising marketplace AdMob released a new, global marketplace for iPhone ads. The most interesting aspect of this is that these ads will be specifically tailored to the iPhone and will also be highly interactive. To promote this launch and the new platform, AdMob is giving away a total of $1 million to iPhone developers to promote their applications through AdMob.

According to the latest data from mobile advertising marketplace AdMob, the mobile web has grown by over 100% in the last 12 months. AdMob's data also shows a 20% increase since May alone. Ad impressions on Apple's iPhone and iPod touch grew by 32% in June, making it the 9th most popular mobile device for online browsing in terms of ad impressions.

Although nearly everyone today has a cell phone, mobile marketing is still very much in its infancy and marketers are struggling with how best to use the mobile platform to influence consumers. So far, it seems they have not been that effective if you look at the numbers: only 6.9% of adults surveyed said that video on mobile phones influenced them to purchase electronics; 6.4% said text messaging did the same. However, when you turn your eyes to what those numbers look like for the younger crowd, an entirely different picture emerges.

Today, at the Internet Retailer Conference and Exhibition in Chicago, Nic Covey, Director of Insights for Nielsen Mobile, spoke on the subject of m-commerce (commerce that takes place via the mobile device). In his presentation, he covered what retailers must do to make their sites ready for the mobile web as well as discussing some stats on who uses the mobile web, what prompts them to shop online, and what concerns they have today about the mobile shopping experience. Additionally, Covey reported that, based research done by Nielsen Mobile, nearly half (49%) of mobile data users have said they expect to participate in mobile commerce in the future. It looks like this is one trend about to take off.

When I read news this morning that AOL's Platform-A would become the exclusive ad provider for Virgin Mobile's 5 million subscribers, I started to think about where web advertising was headed. While it's doubtful that we'll be permanently ditching our PCs any time soon, it is clear that more and more time is being spent accessing the web via mobile devices. So it would follow that the mobile space is going to see a lot of ad money over the next few years (indeed, analysts predict just that).

Mobile marketing startup, TextBound, has big plans to make text messages the new mass media for advertisers. Like we mentioned earlier, more and more companies are going to be betting on location based mobile ads this year, and TextBound hopes to capitalize on this trend. But unlike mobile social network/marketing vehicle, Fluc, TextBound isn't about connecting with your friends, it's about delivering ads to your cell phone via text message, then taking you to the mobile web for more details.

You're walking down the street. You pass a Starbucks. Mmm, that Triple Venti Nonfat Latte sure does look delicious, but you've only got three bucks on you. Maybe next time. But wait! You have a new text message -- "Save $1 on any Starbucks coffee" -- score! Maybe that Latte is within your grasp. Welcome to the world of location based mobile advertising.