The deal will enable classified customers to upload files for publication in the Daily Mail, Mail on Sunday and Mail on Sunday 2, via Specle's online ad spec database specle.net.
Specle said that it had adapted its Specle Full Repro service, which charges advertisers wishing to upload files for pre-press via Loveurope, to accommodate Associated Newspapers policy of paying for its classified customers' repro.
The publisher, which is currently understood to have fixed rate classified repro contracts with three pre-press suppliers, will pay for ads sent through the service at a negotiated rate.
Specle chief executive Tom Beckenham said that the service would remove the hassle of having to email or ftp files to a repro company, and allow advertisers to take advantage of its 'one-click pre-press' partnership with Loveurope.
"Specle is a 'self service' classified portal where the sender can upload, preflight, colour convert, store and manage all their ads and in this case it's completely free for the classified sender," he explained.
"The advantage for publishers outsourcing classified production is that they no longer have fixed costs in their business to handle all variety and types of PDF that come in from senders.
"They can outsource to Specle, and we handle all that process to ensure that only perfect files come to the publisher – with GWG job tickets – that can go straight into the flat plan."
Since its launch in October 2009 Specle has expanded its database to include 730 publications, including all national newspaper titles and a large chunk of the UK consumer and B2B magazine market.
In July, Specle announced its Specle Full Repro service in partnership with Loveurope, which allows advertisers to send a file for publication in any of the titles on the Specle database via specle.net.
The service charges a £50 flat fee per ad, which covers the cost of repro via Loveurope, whose pre-press operators handle preflighting, colour management and customer service.
Beckenham said that – prior to the Daily Mail deal – the repro service has been mainly targeted at display advertising. "However, we are actively looking at how we can offer more services to classified users, including publishers and advertisers," he added.
