In a surprising move by CNBC, the news source has chosen Microsoft as the exclusive third-party provider of mobile WAP site display advertising to CNBC.com’s U.S. mobile audience of 1.1 million unique monthly visitors. This is the first such partnership for Microsoft since it vowed to move more aggresively into the mobile advertising space. Â
Ford Motor Co. is one of the first companies to launch a CNBC mobile advertising campaign in which Microsoft will serve mobile display ads, with many more on the horizon.  Advertisers, such as Ford Motor Co., will be able to take advantage of two premium mobile ad placements that conform to the Mobile Marketing Association’s global standards and deliver a consistent and engaging experience for consumers.
“This expanded alliance with CNBC is a great example of how Microsoft delivers further opportunities for advertisers to connect and engage consumers across multiple platforms and devices,” said Brian Arbogast, corporate vice president of Mobile Services at Microsoft. “CNBC brings premium financial ad inventory that enhances our existing offering, allowing us to attract and grow mobile advertising opportunities for advertisers.”
Microsoft Mobile advertising is available in 11 markets across the globe: Australia, Belgium, France, Italy, Germany, Japan, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, the United Kingdom and the United States. Beginning today CNBC mobile consumers will see mobile display ad placements provided by Microsoft’s advanced mobile ad serving technologies on http://www.m.CNBC.com.
This is a great first opportunity for Microsoft to prove itself in the mobile-ad marketplace. Â CNBC is a rather high-profile mobile site that attracts a lot of visitors, especially during business days given its financial edge, and should show whether Microsoft has what it takes to monetize CNBC effectively. Â
