Google CEO says intense competition should sway the FTC to rubber stamp its acquisition
The Federal Trade Commission should approve Google's acquisition of AdMob in light of Apple's iAd proving the existence of a "highly competitive market".
That's the view of Google CEO Eric Schmidt, who has seen the FTC consider the antitrust implications of his company's $750 million bid for AdMob since it was announced in November.
Reuters reports on Schmidt's speech at the American Society of News Editors yesterday, after which he told delegates: "[Apple's iAd is] evidence of a highly competitive market.
"It just seems obvious to me... I hope [Google's purchase of AdMob] gets approved."
Apple's own entry into the world of mobile ads was signaled with its $270 million acquisition of Quattro Wireless in January.
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iAd is Apple's own in-app mobile advertising network, with the ads taking the form of mini-apps in their own right, complete with video and interactivity.
Apple will sell and host the ads, and app developers will keep 60% of the revenues. They'll be HTML5, rather than Flash.
