An app launched yesterday for Android will give users the chance to earn money by allowing adverts to be displayed on their phone’s lock screen.
Founder Yunha Kim explained that the ads will be targeted at each user individually, using data gathered via Facebook or through a questionnaire. The app will also monitor geolocation, the other apps the customer uses, and their engagement history to choose which adverts are displayed.
The software comes from New York based startup Locket. Similar projects have already been launched in Korea though the US and UK markets have yet to be explored.
Kim claims that the company is screening advertisers, rejecting adverts for alcohol and lingerie and one potential client who was seeking to promote an undisclosed app which Locket felt was poorly designed.
Don’t give up your day job though; users will receive just one cent per ad viewed (though you do still get compensated even if you don’t click through) with a maximum income currently set at 3 cents per hour. While the potential payoff for users is small for now it has the potential to grow as the number of advertisers increases.
