Verizon increases competition by adding Skype to its phones. [Businessweek]

Line Nation concert and event tickets will soon be available at Wal-Mart. [WSJ]

Privacy concerns and complaints cause Google to revamp Buzz. [Boston Herald]

General Motors turns to social media tools to reach consumers. [Brandweek]

New standards are implemented by the USDA for organic milk. [LA Times]

The designer of Chatroulette is a 17-year-old boy from Russia. [NY Times]Continue reading...

Toy Fair, kicking off in New York this weekend, is the big show for new toy introductions. When toy manufacturers display their wares this year, analysts expect them to be conservative as the recession subsides, pitching value more than price.

"You will see the manufacturers emphasize how much play time or value the kid gets out of the toy and then talk about the amazing price associated with that play value," says Anita Frazier, an analyst with market research firm NPD Group.

Toy makers will focus primarily on two areas – going green and leveraging technology – to boost sales in 2010. For the first time, Toy Fair will include a "green pavilion" to highlight environmentally friendly toys. It's a response to retail buyers who said last year they wanted more "eco-friendly" products to market to consumers.Continue reading...

Wal-Mart, Procter & Gamble to collaborate on made-for-television movie. [WSJ]

Motorola to combine hand-set units and set-top boxes into one company. [WSJ]

Apple contemplates $1 television shows for iTunes store. [TechCrunch]

Google will speed up Internet with 100x faster broadband service. [Washington Post]

Dogs can now tweet on Twitter with the help of Mattel's latest toy. [LA Times]

Loyal Barbie collectors get the chance to pick her 125th occupation. [BrandFreak]Continue reading...

McDonald's internal branding campaign, Voice of McDonald's, fosters goodwill with employees, consumers. [NY Times]

Lego expands brand "virtue" into videogames, movie tie-ins. [WSJ]

Ford may finally sell Volvo to Geely. [LA Times]

PepsiCo. pushes social responsibility internally, in advertising. [Warc]

Spyker wants to make the Saab "more Saabish." [WSJ]

Hyundai emerges from the recession a winner, sales up 6.2%. [WSJ]Continue reading...

Oh, those Bratz!

Barbie’s slutty brethren were granted a reprieve yesterday by the US Court of Appeals and will remain on store shelves in 2010.

MGA Entertainment, maker of the Bratz dolls, lost a 2008 court case ordering the company to stop selling the dolls and hand over the copyright to Mattel. The decision also awarded $100 million to Mattel.

Mattel filed the original suit, claiming that the Bratz dolls were created by designer Carter Bryant while he was still under Mattel’s employ.Continue reading...

After being declared an “It Girl” on the fashion circuit by the New York Times, Barbie has been busy with collaborations, particularly its recent partnership with shoe-master Christian Louboutin.

Louboutin fitted the famous doll with miniature red-soled shoes, despite her fat ankles. But what about the rest of Barbie? There is certainly more to this iconic brand than just her feet. Enter Rei Kawakubo.Continue reading...

It is an established fact that kids just don't understand what a recession is, nor would they care if they did. Trust me, scientists have proven it. Little girls, in particular, love their knick-knacks, and dolls are no exception.

The New York Times recently noted the influx of fashion-"minded" dolls. The Moxie Girlz, along with four Liv dolls and the Barbie Fashionistas, were all introduced this past August. Barbie and her accessories still took in about $3 billion last year. The Liv and Moxie lines are each expected to generate $30 to $40 million this year, according to Jim Silver, editor of industry journal Timetoplaymag.com. Not too shabby for a pile of plastic, wouldn't you say?Continue reading...

Disney close to unveiling new technology intended to replace the DVD. [WSJ]

Brand loyalty in auto sales sinks to 20%. [NY Times]

Yahoo ad sales decline, but profit triples. [NY Times]

After three consecutive down quarters, Morgan Stanley returns to a profit. [NY Times]

Starbucks, Microsoft are the brands best utilizing social media. [Warc]

US retail chain Anthropologie opens first UK store in London. [Telegraph]

Cadbury sales increase puts pressure on Kraft bid. [Times of London]

(More headlines: Martha Stewart pet-care, Oprah and Sarah Palin, Toyota's hybrid.)Continue reading...