Skyhook announced that it is incorporating GPS support into its geolocation service to get an even more accurate fix for location-based services. Until lately, Skyhook’s geolocation service, used on Apples iPhone and other mobile devices, has used Wi-Fi hot spots to obtain a fix. But for all of the benefits of Wi-Fi, it doesn’t work in rural areas where hot spots are few and far between. Now Skyhook has integrated GPS support into its technology, which will allow Skyhook to cover more ground with its geolocation service.

"Our technology works great in populated areas," said Ted Morgan, co-founder and CEO of Skyhook. "But on the open road it’s more difficult. Now with GPS integrated, iPhone users, for example, can get turn-by-turn navigation anywhere they go."

Details can be found in the press release at Skyhook Wireless.

Additional coverage can be viewed on the cnet site.

go2 Media, a stage 1 ventures portfolio company, is rolling out animated banner units across its network of mobile content sites. The banners will appear on the top of WAP pages and feature a series of images that display on a 10-15 second loop. This approach ensures that brand advertiser campaigns will be compatible with all networks and devices within the go2 network.

"Brands are looking for what they can do to get that image out there, and if we can do things to help enhance their image and proposition to consumers, these are the types of things that will help mobile marketing grow overall." said Tim Solt, senior vice president of sales at go2.

To date, text-based ads have accounted for the bulk of mobile advertising. But as more consumers begin accessing the Web and content via mobile devices, marketers and publishers alike are looking for new ways to grab the attention of cell phone subscribers.

Details can be found in the press release at go2.

Additional coverage can be viewed on the mediapost site

Myxer, a stage 1 ventures portfolio company, received the 2008 North American Award for Key Market Enabler in U.S. Advertising Markets from Frost & Sullivan. Myxer was chosen for this year’s Award based on the company’s creative solution to key industry challenges, as well as its benefit to the mobile value chain and role in the market. From the Frost & Sullivan site:

"Myxer has emerged as one of the largest providers of ad-supported mobile content in the United States, and plays a key role in enabling ad-supported mobile content services. The company illustrates how advertising-supported mobile services can be delivered without compromising the user experience and has achieved impressive results within a short two-year period (8M subscribers, 18M downloads per month)."

Details can be found in the press release at Frost & Sullivan.

Additional coverage can be found in the Myxer press release.

Ringleader Digital (formerly known as MoPhap), the operator of a mobile advertising network, has has raised $6 million in its first round of venture capital financing, led by marketing services firm W2 Group. From the Ringleader site:

"Ringleader is the first mobile advertising network that finally fufills the promise and potential of the mobile web," said Larry Weber, CEO of W2 Group. "Right now, other mobile advertising networks are complicated, segmented and filled with guesswork and administrative headaches. Ringleader takes online advertising and puts it on mobile devices. It doesn’t get less complicated than that."

Details can be found in the press release at Ringleader Digital.

Additional coverage can be viewed on the mediapost site