C-level executives optimistic about mobile advertising prospects

C-level executives and senior managers expect spending on mobile advertising to increase drastically this year, according to a recent survey from mobile research firm Chetan Sharma Consulting.

A poll of 225 mobile decision-makers revealed 40 percent believe spending on mobile advertising will increase 100 percent in 2011. About the same amount of respondents said spending will increase 200 percent. Only 5 percent believed it will remain flat.

"Our panel was more bullish on mobile advertising than last year," the report states.

In terms of the biggest mobile stories of 2011, 55 percent of respondents believe Google and its Android mobile operating system will grab most of the headlines. The deployment of 4G deployments and the growth of data consumption around the world were each cited by about 40 percent of respondents.

Many companies are realizing the benefits of mobile advertising and focusing marketing budgets accordingly. Apple recently introduced its iAds advertising campaign on the iPad, while a new report from the Millennial Media mobile advertising network revealed that Google leads in mobile ad impressions.