Social networking website MySpace has launched a free ad-funded mobile version. At present, MySpace mobile had been a premium subscription based service and worked on AT&T and Helio. The new service will work on all US mobile carriers and will enable users to send and receive messages and friend requests, comment on pictures, post bulletins, update blogs and find and search for friends.

Fox Interactive Media, which oversees News Corp.’s (MySpace’s parent company) Internet properties, said advertisers have become more interested as the quality of the mobile Web experience has improved.

Accessing the Internet from your mobile phone will soon be as common as text messaging and voice calling,” said John Smelzer, senior vice president of mobile at Fox Interactive.

At first, advertising will take the form of sponsorships and banner ads. But in the long run, Fox Interactive hope to sell more targeted advertising, using registration data from cell phone carriers. The company also hopes to send local ads based on a user’s location using GPS data sent by the phones.

“Over time, the most targeted ads will be on mobile,” Smelzer said.

Fox Interactive Media also announced that it plans to roll out versions of FoxSports.com, the gaming site IGN, AskMen, Photobucket picture sharing site and its local TV affiliates in the coming months that will work on cell phones that can access the Internet.

Courtesy: Mobile Ad News

Popularity: 7% [?]