Cyber Week Sale:
Save 50% on a 3-month Digiday+ membership. Ends Dec 5.
After many false starts, the year of mobile might have finally arrived. The talk at DIGIDAY: MOBILE ranged from the state of the mobile ad world, the proliferation of apps and the need to develop simplicity in a system that’s far too difficult. Here are some highlights from the day’s action:
1. “I don’t know why Oral B needs me to follow them on Facebook or Twitter.” Tim Chang, partner, Norwest Venture Partners
2. “Your mobile device is becoming a cocoon.” John Sheridan, vp of mobile, comScore
3. “Foursquare is over? Foursquare never started.” Theo Fanning, creative director/president, Traction
4. “No screen is too small for branding. The question is the appropriate way.” Vishal Agarwal, director of mobile SapientNitro.
5. “We tend to homogenize mobile. The practical reality is it’s lots of things to lots of people.” Eric Litman, CEO, Medialets
6. “[Mobile rich media] just hasn’t been entirely worth it.” Matt Doherty, associate media director, BrandinHand
7. “[Mobile ad targeting] is not nearly as sophisticated as it is for traditional online right now.” Matt Doherty, associate media director, BrandinHand
8. “While some brands are really good at publishing and has content that resonates with users, it’s really hard to drive sustained usage over time. Oftentimes our advice is you should be an advertiser, not a publisher.” Ken Wilner, CEO, Zumobi
9. “There’s no reason a consumer’s going download a branded app and revisit it if you’re selling detergent.” Joao Machado, VP Mobile, OMD
10. On Android vs. iPhone platforms: “I don’t think were going to see a Libya, but there will be at least a quiet battle.” John Sheridan, VP Mobile, comScore
More in Media
Digiday+ Research Subscription Index 2025: Subscription strategies from Bloomberg, The New York Times, Vox and others
December 4, 2025
Digiday’s third annual Subscription Index examines and measures publishers’ subscription strategies to identify common approaches and key tactics among Bloomberg, The New York Times, Vox and others.
From lawsuits to lobbying: How publishers are fighting AI
December 4, 2025
We may be closing out 2025, but publishers aren’t retreating from the battle of AI search — some are escalating it, and they expect the fight to stretch deep into 2026.
Media Briefing: Publishers turn to vertical video to compete with creators and grow ad revenue in 2026
December 4, 2025
Publishers add vertical video feeds to their sites to boost engagement, attract video ad spend and compete with news creators.
Ad rendering preventing in staging
Ad position: web_bfu
Ad position: web_bfu