On Wednesday evening, as word broke that Apple CEO Steve Jobs would be resigning from his position as head of the tech giant he co-founded in the late 1970’s, more than just shares of Apple sunk in after-hours trading.
Also plummeting were the hearts of many advertisers who momentarily feared that Jobs’ ambitions in mobile advertising would not be carried on by his successors.
However, it now appears that those fears were both fleeting and unfounded.
Although Steve Jobs – the man who passionately engendered the iAd platform – is no longer the captain in charge, the individual taking his seat – Tim Cook – is pledging to stay the course.
“I am looking forward to the amazing opportunity of serving as CEO of the most innovative company in the world,” Cook said in an email to staff following his installment as CEO. “Joining Apple was the best decision I’ve ever made and it’s been the privilege of a lifetime to work for Apple and Steve for over 13 years. I share Steve’s optimism for Apple’s bright future.”
“I want you to be confident that Apple is not going to change. I cherish and celebrate Apple’s unique principles and values. Steve built a company and culture that is unlike any other in the world and we are going to stay true to that—it is in our DNA. We are going to continue to make the best products in the world that delight our customers and make our employees incredibly proud of what they do,” Cook added.
Business analyst Mike Randazzo tells Mobile Marketing Watch this week that while Jobs is no longer the public figurehead, his influence will remain massive. And Jobs’ enthusiasm for mobile marketing lends favorably to the future of the advertising industry – an industry that will not be ignored by new corporate leadership.
“We’re not far away from NFC technology coming to the iPhone,” Randazzo says. “And I also think that fees and exposure opportunities related to iAd will continue to improve. Without a doubt we’re going to see Apple as a major force in mobile advertising in the coming years. It may just take a little longer than initially anticipated.”
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