Google Tests Wireless Ads in Japan

Google has successfully tested ads on mobile phones in Japan, a Bloomberg report says. In the story, Google product manager Deep Nishar suggests ads on cell phones might be priced higher than on the Web, because users might be closer to making a purchase.

The piece suggests, but does not say, that ads are being delivered as part of Google’s mobile services. The company offers both mobile search and mapping services in the U.S., but Nishar tells Bloomberg it’s still too early to monetize mobile in this country.

“We believe this is a phase when people should be investing in the market as opposed to trying to harvest something that isn’t quite there yet,” Bloomberg quotes Nishar as saying.

Competitor Yahoo! has done tests of text ads in the UK.