With AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile and Verizon all dropping most premium SMS billing, this could open the door to higher opt-in rates for mobile programs and the loosening of regulation around these programs.

While film studios and entertainment brands are successfully leveraging mobile and social for real-time engagement, these marketers are not building effectively on the campaigns to create a solid mobile strategy.

Registration is open for the 3rd annual Mobile FirstLook: Strategy 2014 conference Jan. 15-16 featuring speakers from Macy's, eBay, Coca-Cola, Office Depot, Lowe's, Amazon's Zappos, Anheuser-Busch InBev, Rue La La, Citi, REI, Campbell Soup, Omni Hotels, Forrester, Yahoo, NYT, USA Today and Cumberland Farms. Must-attend event for brands, retailers, agencies and publishers.

Please register for the free annual webinar at 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. ET on Thursday, Dec. 5: "Mobile Outlook 2014: Up, Down or Flat?" Panelists include execs from BIA/Kelsey and Hipcricket.

Procter & Gamble's Crest and Oral-B brands are rewarding parents who prompt children to brush their teeth with mobile offers in exchange for using an application.

Sesame Street has launched a new mobile application that leverages augmented reality to let children learn new vocabulary words by scanning printed food-related words on real-world objects.

Today in mobile marketing - Jury tells Samsung to pay Apple $290 million; Intel discloses shift toward mobile devices, other markets; Stereopublic: A crowdsourced app for finding the best places for peace and quiet; Opposition to mobile phone chat on planes.

Mobile Commerce Daily - Victoria's Secret risks me-too pitfall with app update; Toys "R" Us shoppers have high mobile capacity: report.

Luxury Daily today - Rolls-Royce celebrates color via Instagram to popularize bespoke services; Will the i series become BMW's primary line?

By Lauren DeLisa Coleman

It is that time again. The Christmas decorations and candy are already out in the chain pharmacy stores, and it will not be long before the traditional holiday music starts playing.