While reading the collections of mobile 2012 predictions is a great way to gain perspective, I miss deep analysis of these trends that allows us to plan and prepare for the developments likely to impact models and strategies far beyond 2012. Understanding this gap — and the need to collaborate with many mobile authorities , rather than leave such a work to a single writer — GigaOM PRO has published a new report that provides us a valuable roadmap to navigate mobile for the months (and years!) Mobile search landscape. Competition in mobile search is on the rise. MORE >>

Location data and location-aware sensors. At another, it’s a technique that (if wielded improperly)  can move consumers to distrust the mobile channel and shut the door to the mobile advertising and apps it delivers. Talk to leaders in the mobile industry nowadays and you’d think they were all real estate agents with all their talk about ‘location, location, location.’  ve been a data dork for longer than I want to admit and completely understand the excitement around location information.  Command-control. And why not? MORE >>

Big data big data mobile social mediaClosing a chapter, opening a new one. The social media revolution has been an amazing ride. Social media made it suddenly possible for brands & movements foster engagement and connect with their communities like they had never done before. It won’t go away and the world is certainly a better place for it. People and [.]. MORE >>

Another curated collection of data points you need to know as you map out your #MobileFirst strategies to drive positive results further down in the purchase funnel. LocalResponse slices and dices data around check-ins to find out who, where, and when we check in so retailers can make the most of their strategy.  African Americans are heavy users of mobile for shopping. Nielsen gets another call out this week on their data around African American consumers.  They are also reaching to their mobile phone to gather information along the purchase journey.  MORE >>

Mobile apps or mobile Web? If the goal is to reach as many makes and models of devices, then mobile-optimized websites are a natural first choice. If it’s about building “experiences”, then mobile apps — front and center on our smartphones— may have some advantages. However, new numbers from Nielsen boost the argument that apps are gaining some serious traction (despite an increased focus by brands on the mobile Web and excitement about the improvements promised by HTML5). mobile subscribers are moving to smartphones and downloading more apps. MORE >>