Brand engagement with the popularity of social networks looks easy to enact. But competition is getting tougher with every passing moment.  Advertising is seeping into a few key verticals right now, namely revolving around mobile.  As we saw with the latest iAd update, mobile’s a promising industry that requires attention.  Even Facebook’s looking to increase efforts in this space.  But don’t count out other mobile channels, like WiFi. Today, Cloud Nine Media introduces high impact WiFi advertising network.

Cloud Nine co-founder Sebastian Tonkin further explains the business model and the existence of mutualism between WiFi and ads.

“Free WiFi is something everybody appreciates. The beauty of this model is that advertisers can become part of that positive experience and take advantage of a captive, full screen format at the same time. Users get free WiFi, venues offset their costs, and advertisers get guaranteed engagement. In other words, everybody wins.”

Cloud Nine Media’s WiFi advertising network service is not a “Eureka” jiffy. A 12-month pilot run was employed with small group of brand advertisers including Google, smartUSA, Old Spice and Air Lingus, to measure its traction and market potential. One of the partners happily exclaimed,

“What’s great about Cloud Nine’s format is that it allowed us to combine branding with direct response elements within a single campaign. I’ve been impressed with Cloud Nine during my time at Google and I look forward to the results Cloud Nine will deliver for Hipmunk’s 2012 campaign.”

Advertisers are expected to enjoy the following benefits: high quality and full screen ads, 100% share of voice, high impact and interactive video options, brand-safe locations, detailed targeting and creative support. But before a user will be granted to free access to WiFi and unlimited internet usage, they will need to watch a 100% share-of-voice, high-impact message from a sponsor.

WiFi has become a global mainstay, invading countries like the UK, Japan and South Korea. All three countries recorded a double digit percentage growth and worldwide statistics showed public WiFi locations have doubled from 2010.

Early this year, location-based mobile marketing solutions JiWire signed a deal with HarborLink to display its location-based ads to public WiFi networks. In China, more free WiFi networks are coming to public areas in its capital city, Beijing. This will include shopping centers, parks and subway stations. Speaking of going underground, New York City engaged in a trial program involving WiFi and selected Manhattan stations. Still in line with transportation, Ford sees WiFi as a way to make the roads safer by being able to communicate vital information real-time. This could also dramatically reduce traffic congestion and vehicular accidents.

The convenience, accessibility and ease of use is a real draw for consumers, and consequently, WiFi becomes an added feature and market lure of establishments and products alike. Our immense love for mobility will likely boost WiFi demand in no time. A report noted that every person owns at least 3 connected devices in the United States. We just can’t live without our connectivity, eh?