Ringleader Sells Ad Network; Will Focus On Analytics

Mobile-ad company Ringleader Digital has sold its ad network to Access Mobile Advertising, a company recently launched by Ringleader’s former VP of ad sales. Ringleader will focus on licensing its technology that manages and analyzes advertising campaigns for mobile publishers. The company cited an overly crowded network space as the primary reason for the move, but also said that it would clear any potential conflicts of interest that may arise between its licensing clients and its internal sales force, which competed for ad dollars with some of the clients Ringleader licenses its technology to.

Ringleader was founded in 2005 and launched its first product, a mobile ad server called Spark Digital, in 2007. The company made headlines in June 2008 when it was chosen to deliver ads across Interactive Corp.’s mobile network. Other clients include Microsoft (NSDQ: MSFT) and iLoop Mobile (ASX: LPM). The company raised $6 million in a first round in February 2008 from a number of investors, led by the W2 Group. Access Mobile Advertising is run by Kristine Latronica.