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Facebook to monetise mobile users

Facebook is set to start serving ads to users who are accessing the site via mobile devices.

The social networking giant is likely to start placing sponsored featured stories into users’ news feeds in early March, ahead of its initial public offering (IPO) that is expected in May.

The lack of any revenue generation from mobile users was flagged up in Facebook’s IPO filed last week as a cause for concern, as half of its monthly users access the site through mobile devices.

“More and more people are getting smartphones and spending more time accessing the internet via mobile devices. They’ve got to figure out a clever way of monetising it,” head of internet at Enders Analysis Ian Maude told the Financial Times.

Facebook is planning its first event exclusively for marketers called fMC in New York on 29 February, featuring keynotes and breakout sessions with Facebook experts. The event is invite only with key presentations being streamed online.

David Hing, London