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Air2Web Gets $25 Million in Venture Capital Funding

2:38 am on October 1, 2006 | Category: Business, Cell Phones

Atlanta-based mobile marketing firm, Air2Web, has received a major cash infusion from the Carlyle Group, in the form of a $25 million venture capital investment.

Air2Web, whose other investors include Jay Chaudhry, UPS, and Vantage Point, says it will use this latest round of funding to increase its “global footprint” possibly through acquisitions in developing markets.

Air2Web’s services allow marketers, ad agencies, and carriers to deliver commercial messages through a variety of mobile content channels, including SMS, mobile multimedia, and wireless alerts.

The real question, it seems, is whether Air2Web can dispel the stigma associated with advertising on cell phones. As Caroline Lewko of Wireless in Progress points out, most customers are somewhat averse to the idea of having marketing messages “pushed” to their mobile phones.

Ultimately, Air2Web, and companies like it should use their venture capital funding to ensure that mobile advertising is seen in a positive light by consumers. Sticking to a responsible and strictly opt-in strategy will allow these companies to achieve long-term success, and prevent the mobile marketing business from descending to the same level as email SPAM.

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