Apple has made iAd Workbench available to anyone, not just registered iOS developers, reports AdAge.
Starting today, anyone with an Apple ID will be able to open an account with iAd Workbench, the company's mobile-ad management tool, and kick off a campaign within two days. Previously, Workbench was only available to registered mobile-app developers.
Apple is also making improvements to iAd, allowing customers who use Workbench the ability to run short videos within an ad unit. Also, ads can now direct users to a separate website, promoted iTunes content, or a mobile app.
The iAd expansion is expected to draw in new types of advertisers and increase fill rates for publishers.
More details about iAd and iAd Workbench can be found at the link below...
I'm no fan of advertising in general, but if you're going to do it right on mobile, you at least have to innovate and give mobile users something better than banners and what worked yesterday. If iAd is to ever be taken more seriously (and it doesn't sound like it is today) Apple should spend less time trying to catch up to Airpush and Millennial Media and more time trying to create things to make these ad networks have to catch up to THEM. I'm happy iAd is finally making video ads a priority, but good God, that is OLD NEWS in mobile advertising.
What's this catching up business? What media are they missing out on and airstuff? You can send many things now to anyone or everything compatible, they're already caught up.