28% of American adults use mobile and social location-based services

(Via Cynopsis Digital)


About one-quarter of American adults use mobile or social location services of some kind, according to a just-released Pew Research Center study. That includes using phones to get directions or recommendations based on the user's location. Use of actual check-ins on services like Foursquare or Gowalla is lower, clocking in at about 5% of mobile phone owners, representing 4% of adults. But about 9% of Internet users check social networks like Facebook or Twitter on their phones. "Americans are not currently all that eager to share explicitly their location on social media sites, but they are taking advantage of their phones' geolocation capabilities in other ways," said Kathryn Zickuhr, Pew Internet Project research specialist and co-author of the report. "Smartphone owners are using their phones to get fast access to location-relevant information on-the-go."


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$30 Smartphone

via gigaom

"At a time when high-end smartphones costing $200 attract much attention, is there room for a $30 device running the latest version of Android? T-Mobile must think so, because that’s exactly what it offers in the LG Optimus T handset. The phone is all-plastic, uses a low-resolution display, has a slower processor and omits a few functions. But for folks craving a smartphone experience without wanting to invest much up-front cash, the Optimus T includes some advanced features and provides a reasonably good experience for its price."

http://gigaom.com/2010/11/01/lg-optimus-t-review/

Visa's “Wave to Pay” Offers Transit Purchases via iPhone Swipe

via FastCompany

"Visa announced today initiatives in New York and California to create more convenient payment experiences for riders of mass transit. The company is aiming to integrate VisaNet, its electronic payment system, to let commuters avoid the hassle of digging through a wallet or pocket book for cash as the subway pulls away from the station."

http://www.fastcompany.com/1690302/visa-launches-wave-to-pay-transit-purchases-on-iphone

AdMob: Android passes iPhone in U.S. traffic

http://androidandme.com/2010/04/news/admob-android-passes-iphone-in-u-s-traffic/

"In AdMob’s latest March report, Android has surpassed the iPhone and accounts for a greater share of smartphone requests in the United States. AdMob does not represent the traditional view of market share (based on the number of handsets sold), but their reports still provide some insightful data."