According to a new Forrester Research Report, "It's Time to Take Games Seriously." In fact, that's what the report is called, and it certainly sounds like something we've heard before. But Forrester doesn't actually mean that marketers and retailers need to take games more seriously; rather, the research firm is implying that "serious" games (i.e. real world simulations) need to be taken seriously. "Serious" games are created with real-world outcomes as their main goal, such as getting a job, learning how to do a certain job, or even flying a plane. Forrester believes this market is set to explode over …

Yahoo on Wednesday launched two new mobile features: a new social communications service for Apple's iPhone and iPod Touch, and an expanded development platform for developers. The first feature, through Yahoo oneConnect, allows users to marry their cell phone contacts lists to friend and follower lists on social networks like MySpace, Facebook, Bebo and Twitter. The application, now available in the Apple App Store, integrates these lists and their functionality, enabling users to communicate via instant messaging, email, SMS or phone. "We want to create and enable a mobile ecosystem for billions of users," said Marco Boerries, executive vice president …

Is Google a monopoly? Maybe not, but the search giant may be trying to become one, and Kara Swisher suggests that for that reason, regulators should take a long look at Google's proposed search advertising pact with struggling Yahoo. Such a pact -- no matter how small in scale -- would result in the pair cornering 80% of online advertising's most lucrative market. Meanwhile, Google rival Microsoft is gathering legislators, big advertisers, newspapers, and anyone else it can to keep this deal from happening. So why should regulators be worried? Google may not exhibit the "thuggish behavior that so characterized …

Call it the burden of high expectations, but it was disappointment all around at Apple's "Let's Rock" event in San Francisco yesterday. CEO Steve Jobs didn't pull any rabbits out of his hat, and some critics described it as news Apple was saving for a rainy day. In fact, for many, the most encouraging sign was Jobs himself, who appeared in slightly better health and spirits than he had been during the iPhone 3G announcement in June. As for the product announcements, Apple was releasing its holiday lineup of iPods, but BusinessWeek says there was little in the way …

The Financial Times asks what happened to the expected "aftershocks of change" following the addition of Carl Icahn and friends to the Yahoo board. In fact, all that's happened in the six weeks since Icahn's appointment to the board is the company's stock price hitting a five-year low of $17.75. On Thursday, senior Yahoo executives will publicly address the company's strategy, but the FT is expecting to hear more about the development of the company's platform than any solid financial details. Analysts, meanwhile, wonder why the board hasn't taken more drastic action to try and right Yahoo's sinking ship. "It …

How do consumers feel about advertising on mobile phones? Not good, unless it lowers their cell phone bill. According to Paul Kultgen, director of mobile advertising at the Nielsen Co., only about 9% of people think advertising on cell phones is acceptable, but that number swells to 31% if advertising lowers their bill. "We're at a tipping point," Kultgen proclaimed during a presentation at the Billboard Mobile Entertainment Live conference. "The best days for mobile ads are in front of us." Other studies back up his theory. Local Mobile Search recently found that 43% of people interviewed were open to …