Conde Nast on Monday announced making an undisclosed investment in cloud-based ad platform Flite, which it will also use to deliver rich media ads across its magazine Web sites. Flite's ad tools are meant to turn display ads in to app-like experiences by integrating features such as video, social media, live chat and e-commerce as well as the ability to update ad content on the fly. Brands already using Flite nclude L'Oreal, CBS, General Mills, Microsoft and P&G.

Ad spending on mobile messaging will reach $7.4 billion by 2017, fueled by a surge in location-based SMS text ads, according to a new forecast by U.K.-based Juniper Research. While SMS may lack the pizzazz of rich media ads, they offer wider reach and a better chance of being opened, even if unsolicited, the firm said. And, of course, they're also a cheaper ad option. “Sending adverts using mobile messaging gives advertisers a simple, cheap and effective way of reaching …

Barnes & Noble is expanding its Nook business to the U.K. through a new storefront launching this fall. The new www.nook.co.uk site, marking the booksellers first international foray, will debut in mid-October with e-reading devices in the line including the Nook Simple Touch and Nook Simple Touch with GlowLight. U.K. shoppers will also be able to browse the Nook Store's 2.5 million titles. Barnes & Noble also said its planning to soon announce partnerships with leading U.K. Retailers to support the Nook launch through both physical stores and online channels. Additional details on …

A federal judge has rejected the proposed settlement of a class-action lawsuit about Facebook's sponsored stories program.

The wrong kind of Michael Phelps-related Olympic advertising? Apparently when it comes to non-Olympic advertisers. Seems that an print ad for Louis Vuitton has Phelps in the bathtub modeling some new, high-end swim trunks -- photographed by noted lens-er Annie Leibovitz. But that print ad leaked before August 15th.   And that could be trouble. The International Olympic Committee has specific rules for Olympic athletes in promoting non-Olympic sponsors from July 18 to August 15. Coca-Cola or Visa would be fine. And if that happens, in theory, an athlete could …

Discover today confirmed its inclusion among the credit cards supported within Google Wallet. Google recently launched an updated version of its mobile payments app that lets users store and access card accounts from Visa, MasterCard, American Express and Discover via cloud-based technology. But Discover is the first to use Google's Save to Wallet API to let cardmembers save their cards directly to their Wallet from Discover's online account center, according to TechCrunch. “By offering the ability to join Google Wallet through our Account Center, Discover is providing our cardmembers with even greater flexibility …

"The modern Russian [out-of-home] market needs to come out of the shadows. Today it looks like Frankenstein's monster. It is made up of weird segments, with some parts overgrown, while others are obsolete, a monster that interferes with its own development." - CEO of Russia's AIZ Media, and a founder member of the nation's association of digital place-based networks on joining the U.S.' Digital Place-Based Advertising Association DPAA as an international member.

Golf Digest has teamed with popular golfing app GolfLogix to offer a more personalized, interactive version of the magazine for smartphones. Golf Digest Live will combine the the GPS and stat-tracking capability of GolfLogix with content including articles, tips, videos and a customized My Golf Digest. Golf Digest Live collects data from a player's round to produce an analysis including a detailed scorecard, analytics and My Golf Digest, which includes a graphically-rich statistical breakdown, suggested drills and Golf Digest articles from top instructors and PGA Tour pros. …

The Washington Post has never been known for its comics section, but it may become known for its new online games section. The newspaper is going well beyond the crossword puzzle and Sudoku to offer Mahjongg, Jigsaw, Spellbound, and Solitaire. The new section is powered by game development studio Arkadium, which the Post says boasts the “largest library of casual games in the world.” The Post said it plans to expand the roster of games over time. 

Microsoft and Nokia are expected to unveil its first Windows Phone 8 device at an event in New York City on September 5. That date would correspond with a prior report from Bloomberg indicating Nokia will announce its first Windows Phone 8 device on the first day of the annual Nokia World conference in Helsinki. The forthcoming device is expected have the same look and feel as the Lumia 800 and 900, but will likely feature a larger display and faster processor, according to the BGR blog. Windows Phone remains a distant competitor to Android …