FTC taking closer look at Google's AdMob purchase

SAN FRANCISCO -- U.S. antitrust regulators are taking a closer look at Google's proposed $750 million purchase of AdMob, a leading network for marketing on cell phones.

The Federal Trade Commission sought more information about the deal earlier this week. That's according to a Google Inc. blog posting Wednesday.

The so-called "second request" indicates regulators need more time and data to determine whether the deal would thwart competition in the mobile advertising market.

Google says it remains confident the AdMob acquisition will be approved. It didn't set a timetable for closing the deal, which was announced last month.

According to eMarketer, U.S. advertisers are expected to spend more than $400 million on mobile phones this year.