Mobile rich media ad provider Celtra has introduced an upgraded version of its self-serve system launched last year. The update to its AdCreator solution provides new features to streamline rich media advertising and eliminate the need for custom coding. That includes new functionality for optimizing ad placements automatically according to device, more format options such as auto-expand, integrated A/B testing to test creative, and expanded analytics for interactions within rich media ads. Celtra's system promises to let anyone quickly build, manage and track rich mobile campaigns via a drag-and-drop process without requiring installation of any proprietary SDKs. Brands that …

In a new forecast, Gartner projects mobile advertising revenue will more than double in 2011 to $701 million in North America and $3.3 billion worldwide. Those figures will reach $5.8 billion and $20 billion by 2015. The research firm expects mobile search and mapping will generate the highest revenue, while video/audio ads will see the fastest growth in the next five years. The opportunity to reach consumers in a targeted, contextual way via mobile devices will help push mobile from 0.5% of total advertising budgets in 2010 to more than 4% in 2015. The adoption of smartphones and …

Barbara Cipolla, former chief marketing officer worldwide for Omnicom's OMD, has joined Publicis/Vivaki agency Digitas as executive vice president, chief growth officer, responsible for U.S. business development efforts. A consultant since leaving OMD last year, Cipolla had previously spent 10 years at WPP's GroupM, first at MEC and then as president of MediaCom USA.

Virgin America has named San Francisco-based agency Eleven Inc. its agency-of-record for media, expanding its existing relationship with the shop. Eleven will be responsible for all media duties for Virgin America, including planning and buying for digital, search, and emerging media. Eleven currently handles creative, strategy and offline media planning and buying. The incumbents are Aegis Media's Carat and iProspect units.

Digital agency 360i has released a new 7-step guide to building a fan base on Facebook. While the methods outlined are well established--advertising on Facebook to drive traffic to brand pages, creating compelling content, and running contests and other incentives--the report provides a raft of examples to illustrate each step and sub-category of instruction. Makes you wonder why Facebook hasn't done this.

The Ford Focus sedan is now in virtual reality as a digital car in The Sims 3 life-simulation video series.. The 2012 Focus sedan as part of the new Focus Neon Nights package on the EA game, which has sold more than 145 million copies. The Sims 3 game lets players play God by creating lifelike characters, building a verisimilitude of a life narrative, including goals, lifetime wishes, and whether or not they succeed or end up in the gutter. As part of that grand scheme the Focus car is a free download. The Neon Nights package gives players' …

Kia will have a big presence at the NBA Draft on June 23. The automaker will get product and brand placement around the arena and stage, during the live coverage on ESPN, and on NBA TV and NBA.com.  Kia's involvement includes presentation of two NBA Cares Community Caravan events in Newark and New York City before the Draft.   Kia will also have two vehicle displays outside the Prudential Center featuring co-branded signage and brand ambassadors, one of which will host an appearance by an NBA legend prior to the event.  Kia will also present a "green screen" photo …

Coppertone is launching a promotion with Sesame Workshop, including a licensing program via Nancy Bailey & Associates. The effort includes two new product lines -- children's t-shirts from Children's Apparel Network and children's headwear from InnoVision Headwear. The products feature images of "Sesame Street" characters and Coppertone branding. The apparel will be at at mass retailers, catalogs, grocery, drug and department stores next spring.

Google confirmed Monday the acquisition of AdMeld in a blog post on the company's official site. Neal Mohan, VP of display advertising, wrote: By combining AdMeld’s services, expertise and technology with Google’s offerings, we’re investing in what we hope will be an improved era of flexible ad management tools for major publishers. ... Admeld will continue to support other ad networks, demand side platforms, exchanges and ad servers, to yield the best possible results for publishers. The two companies will remain independent at the acquisition goes through review by regulatory agencies.

WPP's MEC North America unit has named Julia Jones a managing partner, responsible for overseeing the Colgate Palmolive account in North America. She had been senior vice president-group account director at Interpublic's Initiative unit.