Internet advertising revenues reached a record $4.9 billion for the first quarter of 2007 - a 26 percent increase over the $3.8 billion in 1Q06, and a 2 percent increase over the $4.8 billion in 4Q06 - the Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB) and PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (PwC) announced, MarketingCharts reports.

Only two weeks ago the IAB reported fourth-quarter and full-year 2006 internet ad revenue figures: in 4Q06, $4.8 billion (a quarterly record and 35 percent more than the year-earlier period); and $16.9 billion for 2006 - a new annual record (and up 35 percent from 2005).

"The continued growth of online ad revenues clearly illustrates marketers' increased comfort with the extraordinary vitality and accountability of this medium," said IAB President and CEO Randall Rothenberg.

"The recent results are particularly impressive when the size of the advertising revenue base is taken into account," said Peter Petrusky, director, PricewaterhouseCoopers.

"Given these results, we may expect continued strong revenue growth buoyed by an expanding broadband subscriber base, which could translate into more users spending more time online and offers a platform for rich media and video ads that dial-up connections can't render."