Google plans street advertising presence
By Conrad Quilty-Harper 
posted Jan 11th 2007 11:59PM
posted Jan 11th 2007 11:59PM
In a patent filing Google has revealed that it is looking into entering the physical advertising industry. The patent filing itself alludes to placing adverts on billboards, with the primary innovation being that they're interactive and connected to the internet -- what, you didn't really believe that Google would go in for static ads did you? The system apparently works by only advertising products that are available and in stock within stores in the local area. Stores will be able to buy advertising on these local electronic billboards through a similar system to how AdSense currently works: by logging into a computer and buying them. One of the key positive developments -- at least for busy consumers -- is that once stock of the product has run out, the advertised project on display automatically switches onto the next one that's in stock. This whole project relies greatly on there being adequate infrastructure for Google to make a return (which obviously isn't a problem when it comes to the internet), so this patent is far from an assurance that you'll be seeing "Ads by Goooooogle" reminding you to pick up some milk from your local 7-Eleven any time soon.[Via SmartMobs]
mmm... the sight of drivers frantically pressing their fingers against their windscreen trying to click on the link...
i like
I dunno... I think Google has a lot of potential here.... Hell they're innovating in a new field! What other billboard do you know that changes in real time, AROUND LOCAL BUSINESSES?
Google's gonna make LOTS of cash off this one.
--Jon Z
As of this writing, "localshopthathasmilk.com" is still up for grabs. Smart investors, go buy the domain now...
And when the connection goes down.
THIS PAGE CANNOT BE DISPLAYED.
Not necessarily. The billboard could store 10-15 static ads every 10 minutes. If it senses that the internet connection is inoperative, it starts displaying static ads.
Ads like: "Visit you local BestBuy at 123 address lane, we have the latest in ...."
Most people probably wouldn't even notice the difference.
--Jon Z
how can they patent this? stanford uses something very similar in tressider union (student cafeteria)
AHHHH 404 ERRORS IN REAL LIFE!!
The true power of this technology is driving customers to sources of scarce items, such as a liquor store owner that still has papers on black Friday. For those that have a desired item to sell it could be a powerful ad tool... Milk seems to be a bad example unless it's hard to get somewhere? Certainly not here, but I'm in Wisconsin after all...
/World's largest BSoD?
Next Google will be trying to beam adverts straight into our brains without our consent. We will be opted in ...unless we opt out ;)
no
This dream is brought to you by Lightspeed Briefs!
Come on, Did none of you think of this?!??! PORN! Come on you HACKERS! I cant wait to see the Yank news when its found out some spotty herbert in his room hacked one of these boards to advertise the local whore house and gives preview vids. What a community service that would be.
You know, this really would've been amazing during the launches of the PS3 and Wii---especially bilboards were advertising which stores had new shipments in, and how many were left. This also could have a lot of potential for huge shopping days, like day after Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, day after Christmas, etc.
There is a company that already is working on this.. I think google should buy them and get right into it.. no typing of long urls.. I wish i had stock in this one..
www.knowtate.com
Wait till LowerMyBills gets their junk on one of these....dancing silhouettes and tattooed pigs galore.
Shitty drivers don't need more distractions IMO.
Digg it!
http://digg.com/tech_news/Google_Ads_Coming_to_a_billboard_near_you/who
Goooooooooot Milk?
even youtube could not satitate the massive appetite of the fearsome beast called the google.
goggles add department just opened up in my hometown. bet i will see a fair amount of these.
Hello wi-max.
Just one small problem, convincing the billboard owner to spend $500k+ per side on converting it into a electronic billboard.. Unless someone shows how that will translate into more money than a static sign doubtful it will happen.
I blogged about this on 18 Dec... some ideas are to use some new technology for the displays to reduce costs to billboard owners... have a read (non promotional link)
http://www.sitecreations.com/blog/2006/12/google-adsense-for-billboards-someday.html
it would be cool to see location positioning technology with this...