• by Tameka Kee , September 5, 2007

Mobile firm IQzone rolled out a free service that lets users create, send and post photo and video ads to online classifieds via mobile phone. Meanwhile, Yellow Book USA posted links to a set of online video ads--spots that the local search powerhouse crafted to give advertisers a preview of its forthcoming video classified offering. The two services are the latest examples of how video is shaping the development of both online and mobile classifieds.

IQzone's "Snap Send Sell" service is geared toward the under-30 market--namely, college students aiming to sell cars and textbooks, or find roommates. Users take photos or video of their merchandise, include the ad copy with price and ZIP-code info, and then send to ad@iqzone.com. The application then categorizes the item for sale and submits the ad to a number free online classifieds and aggregators like oodle, edgeio, and LiveDeal.

According to Brad Holcomb, IQzone's vice president of operations, the company is focused on building the user base rather than monetizing--although the free service will be ad-supported. Messages from sponsors will most likely appear as footnotes to the confirmation texts users receive after creating their listing.

"We did a fair amount of talking to students, and they told us that they preferred to use a free service with targeted ads, rather than pay to post classifieds," said Holcomb. Studying their market also influenced the application's technology, as IQzone even expands text-message abbreviations into proper English.

Both buyers and sellers can remain anonymous through the process, with the company serving as the primary contact for any phone, text, or email connections. But users are invited to create accounts so they can track both their wanted items and posted ads.

The company will host some of the classified listings at www.IQzone.com, but the crux of its business is to send those ads to the free classified sites using a widely accepted API and protocols. Holcomb added that the service helps to deliver new eyeballs to newspapers and other media where classified use is waning. IQzone also plans to integrate its service with social networks like Facebook and MySpace in the near future.

Meanwhile, Yellow Book USA has launched a live advertiser video trial on yellowbook.com. The short, professionally produced clips feature five small and medium-sized local businesses and are less than two minutes long. Yellow Book is soliciting feedback from users and advertisers during the trial, before it expands the video offering to all listings.