Apple’s official announcement brought an end to the widespread speculation throughout the Mobile Industry as to the details of the Mobile ad Network, iAd. Apple has time and again indicated that they want to control the consumer experience of their brand with the launch of both iTunes and the App Store. Hence, many believe that it’s just a manifestation of their strategy.

The launch of iAd should be welcome news for Mobile Advertising as it compels Advertisers to focus beyond just as ‘Strategy’ on Mobile Advertising and more about connecting devices. To the competitors discomfort analysts think this announcement will be good for the industry as a whole. It will draw attention to the ecosystem and probably stoke interest in Mobile Advertising, particularly if Apple is able to deliver some compelling new ad formats.

Mobile Marketing standards have experienced stagnancy with things like Mobile Banners so Apple has huge opportunity to explore and capitalize. The initiation began with Google agreed to acquire AdMob for $750 million and subsequently Apple acquiring Quattro Wireless for $275 million. Google has already invested in patents related to Mobile Advertising in particular location-based Advertising while Apple has related patents in the area of integrating Advertising with an operating system. Apple is suspected to use the Quattro acquisition to create an environment where Application Developers can both build and monetize their Applications.

Apple has taken the advantage of the hype created over the launch of iPad not only to announce iAd but also the new iPhone OS. For Apple, this could not only bring Mobile Advertising under its umbrella, via Quattro, but bigger and better ad units via iPad.

But for now time will only provide us with answers to the following:

• Will iAd, like Quattro, focus on the Mobile Web and all Smartphone platforms, or will it focus on the iPad, the iPhone and the iPod touch?
• Is this simply a rebranding of Quattro Wireless, or will there be significant differences?
• What impact will it have on the Mobile Marketing and Advertising Ecosystem? What are the implications for competitors?
• Will this help raise Mobile Advertising’s profile among Brands and Agencies and help it to gain a bigger share of their Marketing spend?

The iPad announcement is expected to help raise Mobile Advertising’s profile among Brands and Agencies and help it to gain a bigger share of their Marketing spend.