More data showing that people of all ages are becoming more savvy with their mobile devices. High percentages are tapping into mobile internet for various tasks.

• 35.3% use their mobile devices for social media
• 29.5% use the internet search function

Only 12.2% use mobile for online retail, which I’m thinking means that consumers are more than willing to research a product, but not quite ready to make the purchase from their device.

That said, to downplay the role of mobile in the purchase cycle would be a mistake. It is also stated that nearly 1/3 of respondents cite mobile as a preferred shopping method. Again, I read this as consumers stating the importance of mobile while shopping, not necessarily the point of purchase happening from the mobile device.

Via: hightable.com

Brilliant look at why and how we buy what we buy. Behaviors.

Via: CB

Pinterest surged into the spotlight earlier this year when it was discovered that it drives more web traffic than YouTube, Goggle+ and LinkedIn combined. Of course Facebook drives more traffic, but the types of networks being built around interests in Pinterest are setting the table for powerful levels of influence, sure to drive actions.

Pinterest users reported a surprisingly high correlation between pinning and subsequent purchasing: more than 1 in 5 Pinterest users has pinned an item that they later purchased. In the social world, this is a high conversion rate.

Via: HBR

Moms are one of the most important, active groups in social media and these tools are helping them share their interest and influence.

No surprise, but Pinterest is one of their most frequented sites.

Via: Michael Litman

Mobile payment solutions are expected to explode over the next few years.

Starbucks stores showoff the most prominent example of mobile payment solutions today.

Via: Intuit

A broad look at technology device trends and a dive into how America’s reading habits are shifting.

Methodology: Bundle selected the 50 largest cities by population in the dataset. The index is based on the percentage of fashion conscious households in the dataset divided by the average percentage of fashion conscious households across the 50 cities. A fashion conscious household is defined as a household that has had at least 4 transactions at top end designer merchants in the past 30 months.

Via: Kempt

Twitter has changed the economic landscape of how companies connect and communicate with consumers. Two of the shifts are in voice that consumers now have and the way that they are driven to media through social channels like Twitter.

A look at the worldwide growth of social media, and Facebook’s overwhelming dominance. YouTube also holds a large share of membership percentage at 20%.

From bartering cattle to scanning your iPhone app at Starbucks – see the different stages in the history of transactions and commerce. Also, see a few ideas on what’s next.

Advertising: informs, persuades, and influences. Sometimes it’s a good idea to review the simple basics.

An overview of what crowdsourcing is, who’s doing it, what the potential is and challenges to overcome.

ScanLife’s Mobile Barcode Q2 2011 Trend Report is now available. Here are some of the key takeaways:

• A year ago, the ScanLife system was processing 10 scans per minute, and it now does 1 scan per second.
• Scans come from over 125 different countries every day.
• 2D barcode scanning is currently outpacing the growth of 1D barcodes, a major shift from 2010.
• Over 45,000 2D barcodes were generated from the ScanLife platform in the 2nd quarter, a 300% increase from a year ago.
• Over 400,000 unique UPC codes, or products, were scanned by the ScanLife app in a single month.
• The number of females scanning increased 13%, and the 35-44 age-group increased 8% from the last quarter showing a continued trend toward the mainstream.

Download the full report here.

71% of online adults now use video-sharing sites

curiositycounts: The Internet of Things, in an infographic – a timely look at how connected sensors

This is some good “man on the street” style research that represents that reinforces many of the mobile shopping stats we are seeing. (See chart below)

At the beginning of the year I stated that I noted how mobile shopping would be one of the most impactful trends in 2011. If mobile payment platforms make it to devices this year, we are going mobile shopping taken to a whole new level.

Mobile plays a much bigger part in the in-store shopping experience than many give it credit for.

Some key takeaways:

• Twitter has the largest division of wealth with 27% earning 75k or more.
• Twitter also has the largest division of users with secondary education, 37% have at least a bachelors degree.
• Myspace has the largest division of lower income users with 63% earning 50k or less.
• Myspace also has the greatest gender divide, with a 64% female and 36% male membership.
• Facebook has the largest division of older users with 37% being 45 years or older.

What Publishers Can Learn From Facebook Like Trends

An overview of the findings from the “Like Log Study,” which analyzed the Facebook Like trends of 45 major news publications, shows that a very small share of the major account for more than half of likes for each publication.

PewPewPewPewPewPewPewPewPew Voice-Controlled Video Game

Forget navigating the gaming world with your own movements. This game hack is controlled using a separate microphone for each action.

I find it interesting how this modification takes a traditionally single-player interface and creates the need for multiple players. Talk about having true team harmony.