Internet Advertising Bureau -IAB- Wireless Advertising Council Announces First Meeting Agenda

Business Wire, May 4, 2000

Business & Technology Editors

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 4, 2000

Initial Meeting Scheduled for May 17

Over 150 Companies and Organizations From All Segments of

the Emerging Wireless Industry Sign Up to Participate

Reinforcing its position as the Internet's leading resource for the use, education and effectiveness of online advertising, the Internet Advertising Bureau (IAB) will hold the inaugural meeting of its Wireless Advertising Council on May 17, from 3:00 to 5:00 PM at The Grand Hyatt Hotel in New York City. Well over 150 companies and organizations have already signed up to participate in the work of the Council, which is designed to establish guidelines for advertising via wireless Internet Appliances.

"The Internet advertising industry is expanding at a pace heretofore unheard of in the media business arena," noted IAB Chairman Rich LeFurgy. "We have amassed a valuable depth of knowledge relative to online advertising over the past five years. It is now time to adapt what the industry has learned and apply that knowledge to the emerging wireless platforms, and be ready to adapt that combined knowledge base to platforms and devices of the future."

According to IAB Board members Beth-Ann Eason (DoubleClick) and Richy Glassberg (Phase2Media), Co-Chairs of the Wireless Advertising Council, the group's first meeting on May 17, will select the group's Steering Committee. This group will then identify the initial set of objectives and oversee the Council's working groups which will determine voluntary guidelines for advertising in the emerging wireless arena.

Among the initial areas to be addressed are:

- Privacy

- Creative Standards

- Advertising Models

- Measurement and Reporting

- Ad Delivery

"It makes perfect sense for the IAB to lead the way in addressing these important areas for wireless Internet advertising," noted Eason and Glassberg. "We have the experience, having given the industry banner guidelines, the resources and infrastructure necessary for the Council to be able to do its work in an effective and fast manner, and we have the depth of knowledge...we know what works for Internet advertisers and their agencies. Wireless platforms are the next generation of the Internet, and the knowledge base we bring to the table, combined with the expertise of our colleagues from the wireless world are the templates for designing effective workable guidelines for the future success of wireless advertising."

Importantly, the Wireless Advertising Council intends to move quickly to present its initial recommended guidelines to the industry. All those interested in participating in the various working groups should email the Council at wireless@iab.net.

A sampling of companies and organizations already committed to participating in the IAB's Wireless Advertising Council include:

America Online, DoubleClick, 24/7, USA Today, the Advertising Council, Real Media, Engage, SRDS, AdRelevance, CNN Interactive, Jupiter Communications, Nokia, Ericsson, Lot21, AdSmart, Sprint, Modem Media, Bloomberg, Bell South, New York Times Digital, P&G iKnowledge Media, CBS.com, Zagat, AvantGo, Agency.com, Nando Media, Beyond Interactive and the weather.com.

Founded in 1996, the IAB is the leading online advertising association with over 300 active members. Its activities include evaluating and recommending standards and practices, fielding research to document the effectiveness of the online medium and educating the advertising industry about the use of online advertising. Current membership includes companies that are actively engaged in the sales of Internet advertising, with associate membership including companies that support advertising, -- interactive advertising agencies, measurement companies, research suppliers, technology suppliers, traffic companies and other organizations from related industries. A global organization, the IAB has member countries including Canada, Belgium, France, Germany, Holland, Italy, Switzerland and the United Kingdom, and is currently developing membership countries in Asia and Latin America, as well as other countries in Europe. The IAB and the Internet Local Advertising & Commerce Association (ILAC) agreed to combine their organizations in July of 1998