Omnicom Group confirmed today that it has purchased Marina Maher Communications (MMC), the New York-based PR firm that specializes is marketing to women. The shop will be housed under Omnicom's Diversified Agency Services group but will remain an independent agency run by Maher and not folded into one of the group's existing PR networks such as Ketchum or Porter Novelli. Maher founded the shop in 1983 and has crafted campaigns for numerous Fortune 500 companies. The agency has focused on consumer products, food and beverage companies, and the prescription and OTC drug categories. Terms of the deal weren't disclosed.

Clear Channel Airports announced a renewal of an "experiential marketing and sponsorship" deal with Airport Marketing Income, which develops creative new ways for brands to market to consumers inside airports. Among the brand experiences created during its initial deal, starting in 2009, was Google's sponsorship of free WiFi in more than 50 airports. Other marketers using the program include: BlueCross BlueShield, Dunkin Donuts, Hotels.com, Lexus, Pepsi, Sprint, and Under Armour.

There’s no shortage of surveys predicting big gains in holiday shopping via mobile devices. The latest is from mobile ad network InMobi, which estimates 60 million mobile consumers will use their devices to shop, research purchases, or seek retailer information on Black Friday and Cyber Monday. About 45% will use their phones for comparison shopping, up from 22% in 2010. Almost a third (31%) will check updates on sales and promotions, 26% will view product photos and 15% will make purchases on their device while in a store. More details here. The findings are based on an on-device survey InMobile …

Amid a questionable employment market in Western Europe, TMP Worldwide, the largest independent recruitment agency, is opening shop in Hamburg, Germany. At least they picked the right part of the Eurozone.

Mobile marketing firm Velti Tuesday announced acquiring U.K.-based Mobile Interactive Group (MIG) for $25 million to further bolster its capabilities.  MIG provides mobile marketing, m-commerce and mobile billing services in 44 countries, with operations in the U.S., Netherlands, Belgium and Australia, besides England. It boasts 300 enterprise customers include Skype, Vodafone, O2, and PepsiCo, according to the release. The 160-employee company had more than $100 million in gross billings and over $20 million in 2010 net revenues. Velti said it will pay a minimum of $25 million, including $20 million in cash at closing. Depending on MIG’s performance, the …

Jonathan Gibs, the top online media researcher and analyst at Nielsen, has joined NBCUniversal in the new position of senior vice president of digital research for NBCUniversal's Entertainment & Digital Networks and Integrated Media division.

Building on its now annual November push for all things green, NBCUniversal's "Green is Universal" effort announced a 'Green Square' app, a green-themed, location-based app for iPhone and iPod touch.  The Green Square App,  powered by Foursquare technology, will be available in  10 markets, accessed to user-generated tips upon check-in, as well as eco-friendly tips from NBCUniversal talent. 

Android claimed more than half (52%) of the global smartphone market in the third quarter, more than doubling its share from a year ago, according to Gartner data released Tuesday. Conversely, Symbian continued to lose ground, slipping from a market-leading 36% share a year ago to 16.6% in the most recent quarter. Rounding out the top five smartphone platforms were Apple’s iOS (15%), Rearch in Motion’s BlackBerry (11%) and Samsung’s Bada (2.2%). Total smartphone sales to end users reached 115 million units in the third quarter of 2011, up 42% from the year-earlier period, but down 7% from the …

An Australian scientist claims to have cracked the code of viral video success, and he attributes his breakthrough to the science of biological evolution.

Amsterdam-based LBi International N.V. has acquired New York-based social media and marketing shop Mr Youth in a deal valued at between $40 million and $50 million.