Digital Trends

Do you have an affordable data plan? Microsoft has entered the fledgling mobile advertising market, putting ads on its MSN Mobile service.

It's getting so mobile phone users had better hope they have an affordable data plan with their phones, because an ever-growing number of bytes they're paying to download come in the form of advertisements

Today, Microsoft entered the fledgling mobile advertising market, starting with putting ads on its free MSN Mobile service, launching with promotions from Jaguar, Paramount Pictures, and Bank of America. Users will see both text and banner advertisements on the MSN Mobile service; Microsoft says the ads conform to guidelines provided by the Mobile Marketing Association.

Microsoft already pushes mobile ads in the United Kingdom, Span, France, Belgium, and Japan, but the move marks the company's first foray into mobile advertising in North America.

Microsoft also says it plans to add new features to its MSN Mobile offering, including a new astrology channel and the capability to by movie tickets through MSN mobile. MSN Mobile will also offer ringtones, wallpapers, games, and video clips for sale in collaboration with Thumbplay.

"Microsoft is continuing to make significant investments in the MSN Mobile portal, adding new services and content that enhance the mobile experience and make it one of the best in the industry," said Microsoft's corporate VP and chief MSN media officer Joanne Bradford, in a statement. "By incorporating advertising on MSN Mobile, we are allowing advertisers to extend their existing campaigns from PCs to games and now to mobile phones, further delivering on our vision to extend advertising across multiple platforms and devices."

MSN Mobile also hooks into Microsoft's Live services, including Windows Live Hotmail, Windows Live Messenger, Windows Live Spaces, and Live Search.