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While looking for some freeware goodies, I came across SmaatoCost which is an app to track minutes used, data transferred, and SMS message count. This looked like a nice alternative to the retail app SPB GPRS Monitor and more full featured than the free BatteryStatus.  Then I noticed something in the product description:

For the update to the new version 2.1 of Smaato Cost you may have to download
and install two software packages: Smaato Cost and the SOMAT-Launcher.
SOMAT-Launcher is the mobile ad program that delivers and syncs the
sponsored messages within the Smaato Cost application.

It seemed like a mobile version of those hateful adware apps that tends to infest many PCs.  After going to their website:

Smaato has developed an innovative mobile advertising platform that enables dynamic response advertising for mobile phones. Call and event-driven mobile advertisements are embedded in personalized and contextually relevant content.

Today nearly all of the mobile advertising systems cannot monetize the users ‘on-device’ time that is spent offline. This has become a significant roadblock for mobile software and game developers attempting to leverage advertising based revenue models.

Smaato SOMAT: The Smaato Open Mobile Advertising enabling platform covers the whole mobile marketing value chain with server component (mobile ad-server, reporting & tracking, end-user profiling) and client-side offline tracking & mobile sync application for 3rd party developers.

Smaato provides solutions for mobile carriers, developers, media partners and brand advertisers. Our mobile sales network partners include Third Screen Media and Adconion Media Group.

 So the one thing I can say in their favor, is that the adware part is upfront and obvious, so at least it isn’t sneaking it’s way onto your PPC.  Smaato Cost and the other applications look polished and professional, but I’m not sure that I’d volunteer to test them out on my primary device. 

Would you choose to install ad sponsored applications onto your device?

Website: http://www.smaato.com/mobile.php

Radimus (65 Posts) - Website | Twitter | Facebook