According to a new report from Strategy Analytics, mobile ad spending is estimated to grow substantially throughout the remainder of 2012, just as it has during the first four months of the year.
The new forecast suggests that mobile ad spending worldwide will grow 85% in 2012 from $6.3 billion to $11.6 billion.
But in the U.S. alone, ad spend for mobile advertising will balloon much, much faster – likely to the tune of 128%, or $4.2 billion.
These latest numbers largely coincide with last week’s report from the Interactive Advertising Bureau, which indicate that for full-year 2011, revenues soared to a landmark high of $31 billion.
“That milestone represents a 22 percent increase over 2010’s full-year number, which itself had been a record-breaker at $26 billion,” IAB finds.
“This historic moment, with an especially impressive achievement in mobile, is indicative of an increased awareness from advertisers that they need to reach consumers where they are spending their time—in digital media,” says Randall Rothenberg, President and CEO, IAB. “Pushing past the $30 billion barrier, the interactive advertising industry confirms its central place in media. Across search, display, digital video, digital provides a wealth of opportunity for brands and consumers. With the proliferation of smartphones and tablets, it is likely that the tremendous growth in mobile will continue as these screens become even more crucial to the marketing mix.”