Google said on Nov. 12 that it had acquired Gizmo5, a young firm that makes software for Internet telephony. According to MediaPost, Google plans to integrate Gizmo5 into Google Voice, a one-number-for-all system for linking cell, home and work phones.

Ever since receiving FDA notices about their advertising generated from Google and similar searches, drugmakers have toned down their language and sought clarity on what is allowed.

Should there be a language standard in Google ads for supplements? Drug marketers may adopt rules given the close scrutiny that the FDA is giving search-generated ads for pharmaceuticals.

As the application industry continues to grow, a company not known for its IT prowess has decided to get into the business while the getting is good.The

The estimated market in the U.S. for virtual goods in 2009 is expected to double from last year, reaching $1 billion this year, according to a recent study (Mediapost, Inside Virtual Goods). 

The FDA has been busy this past month, sending out warning letters left and right on a variety of topics.  Here they are in brief: This warning letter attacks a purportedly novel type of hand sanitizer called SkinWear that claims to work for up to 8 hours without alcohol in order to prevent the transmission of H1N1 Flu Virus.

Ric Hobby spoke at the CRN Conference last week on the state of international supplement regulation with a particular focus on European regulatory efforts.  Ric directed most of his talk on the work of the International Alliance of Dietary/Food Supplement Associations, of which CRN is a member.

In what has been developing into a cautionary tale of when good apps go bad, potential class-action settlements in California and Texas surrounding Facebook's Beacon ad program may substantially affect one another.

David Vladeck, Director of the Federal Trade Commission Bureau of Consumer Protection spoke at the Council for Responsible Nutrition Conference on the FTC's "active" dietary supplement enforcement agenda.

FDA Principal Deputy Commissioner Joshua M. Sharfstein, M.D. gave the keynote speech to the Council for Responsible Nutrition Conference. Dr. Sharfstein expressed a willingness to work with supplement industry members and received a warm welcome from industry members in return.

I just returned from the annual Conference of the Council for Responsible Nutrition at the Terranea Resort in Racho Palos Verdes, California.  Speakers on the agenda included a variety of supplement industry heavyweights and important government regulators.

Recently, it seemed as though the Google Voice app might have had a major security issue that could have resulted in a great privacy concern;  if it was not corrected, prying ears might have created legal issues. 

The US. could be in line for expanded Internet access in the near future, possibly copying the lead of Finland.  Although it will be quite expensive, the FCC is expected to submit a national plan to Congress this February that would increase the availability of high-speed Internet connections.

AT&T's stranglehold on the iPhone seems to have larger implications than the average customer may realize. Issues such as access, fees and Net neutrality have quickly arisen in an escalating skirmish that is less than six months old.

Now that Utah has become the second state after Michigan to put into effect a registry that blocks adult-themed messages from some e-mails and cell phones, other states may follow.

Pepsi, maker of the AMP Energy drink, has ventured into new territory by marketing its energy supplement drink with an iPhone application to appeal to young guys "out on the prowl." 

The Web has erupted with news, opinion and practical guidance on the new FTC rules that apply to disclosures on blogger freebies. One commentary suggested that MIT graduates who wrote about fondly about their alma mater might subject the university to scrutiny.

If you're a marketer, you need to understand the new rules about endorsements and testimonials that go into effect December 1, 2009. This is a fairly long post, and it doesn't hit on all the issues, but it should give you an overview of what you need to think about.

One of the latest natural progressions in both mobile devices and particuarly in iPhones recently are the increase in Crowdsourcing.  Jeff Howe, who wrote the book on the subject, defines it as: "the act of taking a job traditionally performed by a designated agent (usually an employee) and outsourcing it to an undefined, generally large group of people in the form of an open call."

If your marketing plan includes raising awareness through bloggers, read the latest FTC announcement on disclosure of freebies. The agency says that bloggers who review products given to them for free should disclose that fact in some circumstances.