Google Wins Approval to Acquire AdMob - Bigger Battle with Apple Looms

Google can now move ahead in its bid to strengthen its foothold inmobile advertising.It just won FTCapproval to acquire leading mobile ad network AdMob.



This is a big deal, and it gives further validation ofthe emerging importance of mobile marketing. It also meanswe will seemore intense competition between Google andApple as the latter rolls outits forthcoming iAd platform.



In its 5-0 decision, the FTC commissioners said the Google-AdMob deal did raise some serious antitrust issues, but that Apple's purchase of Quattro Wireless earlier this year and other competitors in the space wereenough to give Googlethe green light.



Look for more on this topic in the next few days in an upcoming ABI Insight.