MasterCard introduced Mobile Payments Gateway, a mobile payments processing platform, in Brazil on November 16. The service gives consumers the ability to use their phones as payment devices and link their existing credit, debit or prepaid MasterCard accounts to fund mobile payments.

The Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB) has released its new "Ad Unit Guidelines 2009 Update." The new guidelines include the perspective of creative agencies, who gave their input for the first time, joining the media agencies and publishers who have historically been a part of the process.

For fashionistas who love trying on clothes but don't want to leave home, online retailer Tobi.com has opened a virtual fitting room. The online dressing room is based on augmented reality technology and lets a user take a photo with a webcam and then try on and rate different outfits.

Google has acquired Gizmo5, a company that makes software for Internet-based calling on mobile phones and computers.

Yahoo launched Yahoo Mobile en Español, a Spanish-language mobile homepage customized for the US Spanish-speaking consumer, on November 12. Yahoo plans to work with advertisers to sell display and mobile search ads on the site.

OfficeMax has relaunched its popular 'ElfYourself' holiday campaign in a move to connect the brand with holiday gift shopping in time for the season. The campaign, which is in its fourth year, launched on November 10 on 'Ellen' and is being promoted through a Web site, e-mail effort, in-store signage, insert media and social media. The initiative, which runs through January 15, is aimed at helping OfficeMax retain and acquire customers.

Wrigley has confirmed that it has transferred its digital advertising duties to Big Spaceship, EVB and Firstborn. Wrigley had been working with Tribal DDB, Digitas and Agency.com prior to the decision, according to a report in Advertising Age. Digitas confirmed the loss, but declined to comment on the matter. Agency.com and Big Spaceship referred calls to Wrigley.

As Google looks for ways to monetize YouTube, the video-sharing Web site is testing an in-stream ad unit that lets viewers skip through an ad with the goal of making online video advertising more relevant. The concept of the ad unit is that while users are given the tools to skip the ads they don't want to see, when they do in fact watch them, they will do so with more engagement.

Interactive marketing will grow at a 16% compound annual growth rate over the next five years, but the retail and financial services sectors will continue to have the largest share of overall interactive marketing spend at a combined 32%, according to a Forrester Research report released this week.

IBM has released WebSphere Commerce 7, the latest version of its e-commerce platform, which includes integration with social media and mobile. The overarching goal of the platform is to create a more personal experience at the consumer level.