JiWire unveils location-based mobile ad platform‎

Clinique, Groupon, Hewlett-Packard and Ritz & Wolf Camera & Image are among the first brands to sign up to JiWire’s new Compass Geo App-in-an-Ad location-based mobile advertising platform.

Compass Geo App-in-an-Ad serves interactive adverts to consumers using mobile devices and public WiFi and also provides them with product availability and real-time stock information, directing them to locations where they can purchase products and services offered by more than 200,000 retailers and manufacturers.

The application likewise enables shoppers to both put products on hold and make online purchases that they can pick up in-store as well as book appointments and make reservations. Advertisers can also create customised tabs to provide shoppers with additional brand information via videos, promotions and product demonstrations.

Kevin McKenzie, JiWire’s founder said that the digital and physical worlds were merging, which was driving the birth of location-based media. "Consumers are demanding location content and our advertising partners are adopting new ways to ‘locationise’ their brands. Compass is delivering on the next evolution of how this industry is going to monetise location-based advertising," he added.

Compass adverts can be viewed using either smartphones or laptops and provide consumers with location-specific data about advertisers and their brands. Once an advert is selected, it expands to a full-screen format to show shoppers nearby locations where the desired product or service can be found. JiWire claims to have 40 million unique users of its existing mobile media channel.