The proposed project will allow all subscribers of VimpelCom's Beeline to gain access to the globally acclaimed News Portal Google News at the mobile operator's WAP portal. The thinking behind the campaign is that it will be able to develop its readership figures in Russia by attracting Beeline's clients, ultimately gaining from mobile advertisement profits.
Profits from mobile advertising worldwide reached $3 million in 2006, according to research from the Informa analytical company. Experts predict that these revenues will grow to $1.5 billion by 2011.
On Thursday, the newly united owners of Beeline said:
"News is traditionally one of the most visited sections at Beeline's WAP portal."
Traffic levels currently stand at 17 million clicks recorded at Beeline's WAP portal every month. The number of clicks to Google through the Beeline portal is only one million in comparison - a figure that's sure to be scrutinized, with hopes of raising it progressively in the coming months. No goals have been divulged at this stage but, knowing Google, they will be aiming high - and as always, you wouldn't want to bet against them in a popularity contest.
Looking at the present market with an analytical eye, we can make an educated guess as to the kind of advertising levels that may be seen in the early stages of the project. If Google starts placing advertisements at Beeline's portal, it may bring in up to $80,000 a month. Of this figure, we can expect between 30 and 50 per cent of the sum to go to VimpelCom.
Russian-based search systems have not yet declared any plans to follow in the footsteps of Google and enter deals with mobile operations. Russian search engine Yandex believes that mobile search should be promoted through cooperation with major phone producers. This is an interesting comment as Yandex, the country's largest search system, has already struck a deal with Nokia to these ends.
