Facebook is investing in research and development on location-based mobile advertising, according to reports.
Bloomberg reports that Facebook is currently developing a location-based mobile advertising product that will allow advertisers to target potential customers based on real-time location data.
The new service could potentially allow, for example, a retailer to purchase advertising on a Facebook app or website for consumers in a target age bracket who are currently within a 100 metre radius of their store.
Given mobile advertising is currently far less lucrative than internet advertising to desktop computers, Facebook may be hoping that location-sensitive premium advertising may be the “killer app” it’s looking for.