Apps were the main attraction at the CTIA’s conference in San Francisco, the Mobile Marketing Forum in London and at the American Magazine Conference in Chicago — where Oprah, of all people, weighed in. Almost five billion apps have been downloaded to mobile devices since Apple’s App Store opened in 2008, according to Borrell. Meanwhile, mega-trendsetter Oprah, who was an early iPad user, tipped the scales for several apps when she named her favorites during an appearance at a magazine conference. billion on the rest. Will she do the same for apps? MORE >>

Whatever benefits you derive from mobile technology as a consumer, they correlate directly to opportunities in the mobile space that one business or another is taking advantage of. Is your company taking full advantage of its mobile opportunities? In our earlier blog The Mobile Marketing Road Less Travelled , we referenced IDC [1] estimates that by 2015 more US broadband users will access the internet on a mobile device than on a PC-based/wired device. Adults spend more time on mobile media than they do reading newspapers and magazines combined. 2] [3]. MORE >>

According to the 2010 Hipcricket Mobile Marketing Survey – a survey of 526 U.S. consumers – 57 percent of respondents would be interested in opting in to a brand’s loyalty club via a mobile social networking application such as Facebook. It also found that 90 percent of those who had participated in a mobile loyalty club said they had gained value from the participation , a result that represents a significant untapped opportunity for brands. Blett also outlined “at least four challenges marketers can expect with mobile.&# This week U.S. Timothy A. MORE >>

On Monday I am leaving for London for the conference Future of Web Design and I have already been impressed by the way they make use of digital media. The conference has been able to create plenty of opportunity for people and participants to connect with one another and to get the word out in a social way. Three weeks ago I received their newsletter in which the conference informed us about the Future Of Web Design application called FOWD. The conference really understands to give something that fits the target audience and thereby create a possible experience of it. MORE >>

The monthly Carnival of the Mobilists (COM) sets up camp at MobileGroove with an entertaining and eclectic mix of themes and topics that speak volumes about recent developments in mobile. From a curated list of Mobile Web influencers to an examination of the pros and cons of mobile apps , it’s all there – so let’s dive in! sample question: You hear that your reseller chain – the mobile operators/carriers – has gone into sales boycott because of one decision made by your company. How can retailers really deliver value via mobile? MORE >>