Yahoo! Inc. announced the beta launch of its graphical advertising platform for its Mobile Web service in the United States. The first advertisements on this beta platform are scheduled to go live later this week. The launch follows the beta introduction of search advertisements in October 2006, which together enable Yahoo! advertisers to reach millions of consumers on their mobile devices via major wireless carriers in the U.S.

The beta platform will support graphical advertisements across Yahoo!'s Mobile Web service. Consumers will be able to click on interactive ads to obtain more information on the advertiser's offer or directly call the advertiser.

"Yahoo! has established itself as an early leader in mobile advertising and is continuing to help drive the growth of this emerging market," said Steve Boom, senior vice president, mobile and broadband, Yahoo!. "As the only company with clear leadership in all forms of Internet advertising and a leading provider of mobile Internet services, we are uniquely able to create and deliver innovative, interactive marketing solutions to a targeted audience of engaged consumers."

Yahoo!'s Mobile Web service is available on most mobile phones across all major mobile operators in the US. The mobile browser based service gives consumers quick access to Yahoo! services including Yahoo! Search, Yahoo! Mail, Yahoo! News, Yahoo! Finance, Yahoo! Sports and more.