Research company FirstPartner says the UK's mobile advertising market will grow by 33% to reach £49.8 million this year – and will then accelerate until it's delivering revenue of £285 million per annum by 2014. The next largest markets in Europe are Germany and Italy; their anticipated revenues this year are £42.6 million and £38.4 million respectively. Overall, mobile advertising is expected to be worth £1.1 billion in Western Europe by 2014, with this growth dominated by mobile search.
Justin Davidson, Senior Analyst at FirstPartner, said "Mobile advertising has witnessed a number of major developments over the last 12 months that lay the foundations for sustainable growth. Widespread adoption of smartphones and use of mobile to access Facebook and other social networking sites has driven mobile internet into the mainstream. The prospective purchase of AdMob by Google and the entrance of Apple will significantly strengthen awareness of mobile as an advertising medium amongst advertisers and agencies. Actual growth will depend upon the willingness of brands to explore the opportunities that mobile is now starting to present."