Apple became the world's top smartphone seller in the fourth quarter, with a 23.8% market share, and for 2011 overall, with a 19% share, according to new data released Wednesday by Gartner. Worldwide smartphone sales to end-users increased to 149 million units in the quarter, a 47.3% jump from a year ago. Total smartphone sales in 2011 reached 472 million units and accounted for 31% of all mobile devices sales, up 58% from 2010. In the smartphone OS market, Android’s share declined slightly from the prior quarter to 50.9% as a result of strong iPhone sales driven by the …

In a bid to maximize the benefits of its global search operations Omnicom Media Group is re-branding search agencies it uses in 40 countries under the Resolution Media banner, which it acquired in 2005 and which has previously just operated in the U.S. The rollout, which represents roughly $2 billion in search billings globally, starts now and is expected to be completed in the coming weeks. The benefits are expected to include improved pricing leverage on behalf of clients and optimal use of data and marketplace knowledge, as well as making non-clients aware of the scaled capability that Omnicom has …

Twelvefold Media (formerly BuzzLogic) has brought its Spectrum ad platform, which targets display ads at the page level based on topic, audience and social activity, to the mobile realm. The company says its Spectrum for Mobile solution will allow more precise targeting on smartphones and tablets than is typically available today. It notes that traditional mobile ad solutions target audience based on categories such as automotive and “lifestyle” in-apps like Angry Birds and FarmVille, or targeted to keywords such as “healthy snacks.” But through its page-level targeting, Spectrum for Mobile would be able to match ads to more specific …

On Saturday, Feb. 18, consumers in Orlando, Fla., who drop off old electronics will receive two tickets to the NBA All-Star Jam Session, scheduled to take place on Feb. 23 and 2

Talks between Yahoo and China-based Alibaba Group over the sale of the Web portal’s Asian assets have broken down, according to reports Tuesday. The impasse throws into question Yahoo’s goal of reaping an estimated $17 billion from selling back its stakes in Alibaba and Yahoo Japan back to those companies. The hitch in negotiations came on the same day activist investor Daniel Loeb, who runs hedge fund ThirdPoint, disclosed plans to nominate former NBC Universal CEO Jeff Zucker, himself and two others for Yahoo's board, in a regulatory filing with the SEC. Yahoo Chairman Roy Bostock last week announced …

The Search Engine Marketing Professional Organization (SEMPO) opened voting Tuesday for the Board of Directors Election: 2012-2014. Members can cast their vote through Wednesday, Feb. 22, ranking candidates in preferential order. Those running for election include Lindsay Blankenship, director of search marketing at Razorfish; Chris Boggs, director of search and media at Rosetta; Bruce Clay, Bruce Clay president; Rob Garner, VP strategy at iCrossing; Mike Gullaksen, SVP and managing director at Covario; Frank Lee, head of sales at DataPop; John Nicoletti, director of agency development at Google; and Suzy Sandberg, president at PM Digital.

Verizon Wireless and AT&T plan to sell a version of the next iPad that runs on their 4G networks, according to a Wall Street Journal story, citing people familiar with the matter. Apple is expected to unveil the latest version of their popular tablet computer during the first week of March. The 4G networks are expected to drive heavier media consumption as faster speeds allow people to watch entire movies or shows over wireless networks rather than just video clips. AT&T and Verizon are the only two U.S. carriers that currently offer the iPad, and the only ones that …

The Interactive Advertising Bureau today released the final version of its ad verification guidelines. Developed in conjunction with the Media Rating Council, the guidelines aim to insure a common set of methods and practices for ad verification and minimize ad impression discrepancies between publishers and advertisers. “While ad verification in principle is valuable to the digital advertising industry, the lack of accountability created tension between the publishers and marketers. We developed these guidelines to introduce a level of consistency into campaign assessments commensurate the industry's standards for impression measurement,” said Steve Sullivan, VP, advertising technology, IAB, in a statement. …

The Department of Justice Tuesday approved Google's $12.5 billion acquisition of Motorola Mobility. The Mountain View, Calif., tech giant said it wanted the company to improve Android and control the patents. The day prior the European Union also approved the deal, saying it did not deem the acquisition to threaten competition.

Oprah Winfrey has apologized to Nielsen and deleted a tweet she sent to her Twitter followers Sunday night pleading with them to watch her OWN network. "Every 1 who can please turn to OWN especially if u have a Neilsen box," read the tweet, which was sent just after her new "Oprah's Next Chapter" interview show debuted Sunday night.