Whole Foods Market says it is offering free shipping on its holiday gift boxes to soldiers deployed overseas. Sears--already a big military supporter through its Heroes at Home program--recently launched a "Baking for the Troops" program to send cookies to military personnel. And longtime supporters--like Pitney Bowes, with the Holiday Mail for Heroes it sponsors through the American Red Cross--are ratcheting up their efforts. To a degree, soldier-supporting causes have become holiday perennials, along with food drives and red-kettle giving. But some experts think we may be seeing a little spike in cause efforts focused on service members and …

A new mobile ad network aims to carve out a niche with a performance-based model. The not-so-subtly named Moolah Media offers a cost-per-action (CPA) -based mobile platform which it says has already served more than 100 million impressions and generated more than 250 million "quality" leads for advertisers in its first month. Through Moolah's network, advertisers can drive inbound calls directly to call centers, collect signups and registration leads, and track conversions via real-time reporting. The system delivers ads in apps, on the mobile web, through text messages and via voice channels. Read more here.

Google's advertising platforms will support the Jordanian Ministry of Communication and Information Technology to promote services, according to the Jordanian government. The deal worth $10 million announced Tuesday also reinvests $2.5 million in the local ICT sector. Advertisers will include 10 government agencies: Royal Jordanian, Greater Amman Municipality, Jordan Tourism Board, Petra Regional Authority, Jordan Investment Board, Kind Abdullah II Fund for Development , Development Area Commission, King Abdullah II for Design and Development Bureau, Business Park and ASIZA-Aqaba.

While zippier holiday sales may be good news for retailers, a new survey from Bankrate.com spells trouble ahead for consumers: Even though the majority are worrying more about their financial security, 66% haven't made a holiday budget. "What's really alarming is that lower income households are even less likely to have a spending plan," Greg McBride, senior financial analyst at Bankrate tells Marketing Daily. "It's also worrisome in that it isn't a surprise—people know December is coming, but still don't make a budget." Some 43% of those earning $75,000 or more per year have a holiday budget for …

Mobile shopping service shopkick has added Crate & Barrel as its latest retail partner. By early 2011, the chain will offer rewards points via the shopkick at all of its 1,100 U.S. locations. The service will debut at Crate & Barrel stores in the New York and Chicago areas Dec. 18. Other major retailers already on board with shopkick include Best Buy, Target, American Eagle Outfitters and Macy's. Read more here.

Time Inc. has named Interactive Advertising Bureau head Randall Rothenberg as its first chief digital officer. In that role, he'll be responsible for developing and overseeing Time's digital growth strategy and for working closely with the company's digital teams in editorial, advertising, content, technology and other departments. Rothenberg will also be charged with identifying new digital revenue opportunities for Time, including potential acquisitions. During his tenure as president and CEO of the IAB since 2007, membership of the trade group increased by 50% to 460 companies and …

Philips Norelco is partnering with Disney for a program the ties the male grooming brand to the studio's new "Tron: Legacy" film, premiering Dec. 17. Norelco is supporting its SensoTouch 3D shaver, which it recently launched, and the "The Game Has Changed" ad campaign to give consumers in 16 U.S. cities tickets to the 3D and complimentary passes for an advance screening of the film. The effort includes a website, www.3DShave.com/Tron. The advanced screenings are being held on Dec. 13, 14 and 15 in Atlanta, Bentonville/Rogers, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Detroit, Ft. Lauderdale/Miami, Houston, Los Angeles, Minneapolis/Apple Valley, New …

As the number of mobile app downloads spirals up, from 10.9 billion worldwide in 2010 to 76.9 billion in 2014, so will revenue in the category, to $35 billion in four years, according to a new forecast from market research firm IDC. It expects apps to find their way into even more devices in the coming years including connected TVs and by extension, the connected home itself. One of the most salient aspects of the rise of apps to date has been their ability to apply to a smartphone into everything from a physical trainer to a menu planner …

Because it couldn't pony up the $100,000 annual dues, the Nutmeg State has been erased from a map at Discover New England's web site. Sue Norrington-Davies, the group's executive director, tells the Hartford Courant that Discover New England promoted Connecticut for six months for free, but then its board decided in January that it wasn't fair to the other New England states. "Action had to be taken to show the implication of these budget cuts," Norrington-Davies said. "It's an unfortunate situation. We want Connecticut back on board, I assure you."

Philo, a social media platform that is like Foursquare for TV (you check into shows instead of places) has teamed up with Spike to create some social engagement around its live telecast Saturday of the Video Game Awards in Los Angeles. The promo includes "World Exclusive Premiere Badges" tied to 13 premieres of some of the most anticipated games of 2011. Gamers can check-in on the Philo/VGA landing page starting today to enter to win an XBOX Kinect prize pack and other exclusive VGA gear. During the live broadcast on Saturday, fans can chat live, and share their awards and …