As more and more smartphone handsets are sold, AdMob's network is expanding fast, with Google reporting the platform served its 300 billionth ad on Monday.

Delivered via a succinct tweet, the firm described the figure as an exciting milestone, with the rate of its growth accelerating as AdMob beds into Google's set up.

To put the 300 billion in some kind of context, it took AdMob 38 months after its foundation to reach its first 100 billion ads. The second 100 billion came a further nine months on in May, with the last leap having been made in just over five months flat.

Growing with Google

Much of this growth has come post Google's buyout, completed for $750 million in November 2009.

It would seem it was money well spent, with this growth acceleration suggesting the network could serve its 400 billionth ad in early 2011.

Back at the time of its first 100 billion, AdMob put a large part of its ad expansion down mobile's transition into mainstream, with the birth of the smartphone app coupled with an improvement in mobile browsers and connections.

"No longer for just early adopters, as smartphones have become mainstream, having a strong presence in the mobile landscape has become essential for both mainstream brands and emerging developers alike," the firm said.

[source: TechCrunch]