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Trend: More Mobile Users Get Smart(phones)...
 According to a RCR Wireless story at the end of 2008, the U.S. market had a smartphone penetration rate of 15%. Currently it is nearly 25% and The Nielsen Co. is predicting that by the end of 2011, there will be a 49% adoption rate. That's right, half the mobiles out there will be smartphones.
With the price drops we've been seeing, that's not too far-fetched.
The story discusses the uses of the smartphone: communication first, seeking information second, followed by entertainment.
That seems in line too.
Mobile video usage is bringing up the rear: "It's still a poor experience for most users."
The story included quotes from Jennifer Byrne, director of business development at Verizon:
>> She believes the top mobile video category will be self expression and user-generated content, particularly once two-way video gets its legs.
>> Social networking and microblogging services like Facebook, Twitter and Foursquare consistently maintain the lead positions on every app store.
>> She added. âMy hope is that companies like Facebook will innovate on mobile like they are onlineâ so that when Verizon Wireless sells a smartphone, there's a clear reason why a customer would buy such a device and pay for a data plan.
Of course, working out the monetization model for mobile video is an ongoing discussion. This is definitely a "To be continued" story.
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