The survey found 64 percent of GenY (age 18 to 34) shoppers used their mobile phones for in-store shopping-related activities during the holiday season. In addition, all surveyed age-segments cited interest in next-generation retail technologies to make better-informed decisions. When in-store employees used mobile technologies, such as two-way radios and handheld mobile computers, shoppers reported a better experience due to the use of the devices ((59 percent and 56 percent respectively).

"With nearly seven in 10 surveyed holiday shoppers either reporting flat or declining budgets, retailers vying for finite shopper dollars need to provide a seamless customer experience," said Frank Riso, senior director of retail solutions, Motorola Enterprise Mobility Solutions.

"By utilizing mobile technologies, consumers have become empowered, better informed and more critical shoppers. Retailers need to establish near-term strategies to provide product information, stock availability, discounts and coupons directly to shoppers to help them to remain competitive."

Because of the economy, shoppers were after more coupons and discounts in 2009 with 39 percent willing to abandon purchases if coupons and discounts were unavailable.

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AT&T Offers Parental Control For Mobiles

AT&T Smart Limits for Wireless is a service that allows a parent to set usage limits on a child’s talk time, text messages, instant messages and downloads. Parents manage how and when a child can communicate, restrict access to mobile Web sites and provide minutes among users of a shared plan.

"AT&T Smart Limits for Wireless enables parents to provide their children with the safety and convenience of wireless service while setting sensible boundaries for its use," said David Christopher, chief marketing officer for AT&T’s wireless unit.

"AT&T Smart Limits for Wireless gives parents peace of mind in knowing they will be able to keep in touch with their children but will avoid unexpected overage charges on their bill."

Smart Limits for Wireless also lets parent’s block numbers they think may be inappropriate and control the time of the day and days of the week that the phone can be used. Parents can go online and change the limits at any time.

"AT&T Smart Limits for Wireless is another way AT&T is integrating services and features to help customers manage content delivery across any of their devices and decide what is appropriate for their family," said Christopher.

AT&T Smart Limits for Wireless is available for $4.99 a month for each line for AT&T wireless users who subscribe to a new or existing postpaid rate plan.

A ‘Map My Photos’ feature on Picasa albums lets the photographer show where their pictures were taken. A post on Google’s official blog by Ping Chen and Joel Onofrio described the process:

Here’s how to get started: when you create a new album, just fill in the optional ‘Place Taken’ field. You can even drag and drop individual photos directly onto a map, and use built-in Google Maps technology to pinpoint exactly where each was shot.

Google also launched a version of Picasa specifically constructed for mobiles. This product connects to the user’s Web Albums, so the mobile functions as a virtual book full of pictures. People can also keep track of photo updates by family and friends, and comment on new pictures from the mobile phone.

(Disclaimer: Billy Ray Cyrus, unfortunately, is from my hometown, along with the Judds, Ashley included, and Love Connection’s Chuck Woolery, all of whom now have streets named after them, alas.)

Bill Ray, who asks "but what if there wasn’t a vibrate function?", was referring to a study conducted by Britain-based Carphone Warehouse, called "Mobile Life," accessible at the company’s website.

When asked which they would prefer to give up, one-third of 16-24 year-olds said they’d rather give up sex than their mobiles. Maybe I (and every single last one of my friends) was and am a perv, but that’s just ri-goshdarn-diculous. However, as a future father and present stepfather, that is somewhat heartening as well.

Maybe kids aren’t as depraved as we’re inclined to think they are. After all, those that did give up their phones for a time were pleasantly surprised at how much more they got done and how much more organized and punctual they had to be (it’s harder to call in late somewhere, you see).

As for how much affect the region had on the outcome, the rest of the study findings seem in line with what I would expect to hear from my 14 year-old stepson and 12 year-old niece. So maybe there’s some hope for us that are wracked with worry that they’re all a bunch of overly-hormonal heathen sex fiends.

Maybe they’re not just like us after all – ah, the memories.

If you’re wondering what exactly this has to do with e-commerce, well, just keep in mind these are the ones we sell disposable crap to, and later, non-disposable crap. Marketers need to understand their demographics, especially as the online world becomes increasingly mobile.

Some Interesting Findings:

• Phones are, generally, more important to the girls; Boys and younger teens prefer video games. However this trend tends to reverse in older teens. But girls still talk a lot more.
• Even so, 74% say they text more than they talk.
• People born since 1985 have never known life without mobile phones. (Yikes. Another regional conflict appears here, though, as the study mentions phones in "draughty halls" for important calls only. Not sure if it’s ever been like that in the States.)
• 78% say they’re social life’s better; 70% say mobiles make life better in general.
• A quarter feel unwanted if a day goes by without a phone call.
• A quarter have been asked out via text (nice replacement for the paper note that always gets taken by the teacher, isn’t it?).
• 59% say parents give them more freedom because they have a mobile.
• A third of the ungrateful brats dodge phone calls from their parents.
• Style matters to girls more than functionality. It’s the reverse with boys.
• Words used to respond to possibility parents won’t buy a phone for their kids: "Sad," "Geek," and "[Their parents] should be reported to social services." (To be fair, some said they wouldn’t judge them either way.)

If you’re familiar with Google Checkout (and have the patience to work with tiny buttons and a small screen), then the learning curve should approach zero.  “The Checkout experience has a couple differences in the mobile world – for example, buyers verify their identity with a PIN rather than with their full Google login – but generally it’s the same secure and convenient experience that’s offered on the desktop,” writes Peisun Wu on the Official Google Checkout Blog.

That’s good for consumers, but the Googler continued by saying that merchants should find Google Checkout for mobile convenient, as well.  “US and UK Checkout merchants who have mobile-friendly sites can now offer their customers a fast and secure way to shop online while on the go.  Existing merchants who have a WAP-enabled site can now use Google Checkout for mobile with no changes, and when new merchants perform a standard Google Checkout merchant integration, the mobile functionality will be implemented automatically.”

All’s well, then, for mobile-minded people in the US and UK.  And, as an American who probably won’t use the new service (however nifty it is), I wouldn’t complain too loudly even if it wasn’t.  But as the author of Sans Web asks, “what about other countries? […]  I can’t wait to get my hands on some Google Checkout here in Australia.”

The study found that people are keeping their mobile handsets for an average of 17.5 months, which is an increase from 16.6 since November of 2006. The increase in ownership is about equal among major hand set brands.

"One possible reason for this significant increase in the length of handset ownership is that more customers are initiating or renewing their service contracts for a longer period — typically for two years, as opposed to just one year, which was customary a few years ago," said Kirk Parsons, senior director of wireless services at J.D. Power and Associates.

The study also found that the price a person pays for their mobile phone has dropped from an average of $103 in 2002 to $93 in 2007. The drop in price is mainly due to discounts from handset providers and wireless carriers in hopes of increasing sales. Around 36 percent of customers say they received a free mobile when subscribing to a wireless service, which is an increase from 28 percent in 2002.

"It’s clear that wireless service carriers are using mobile phones as bait to increase consumer traffic, applying discounts either through rebates or free limited-time offers," said Parsons.

"The problem with this strategy is that, in most cases, the discounted handsets being offered are older models, which typically lack the latest technological advancements or desired design features."

Google Maps For Mobiles Finds Way Into UK

“The service, integrated with Google Earth for showing satellite images, has been available as a Java application for a while,” reports The Register’s Bill Ray.  “But with the UK launch Google has enhanced the route-planning capability, as well as adding searches for local businesses and traffic information.”

Ray then points out that using the service could, given “the amount of data sent and received,” become an expensive proposition for mobile users without a forgiving plan, or as he puts it, “unlimited tariff.”

Want to learn another British-ism?  Tech.co.uk’s Anna Lagerkvist, who was among the reporters anticipating Google’s mysterious “product for mobiles,” refers to a fast food place as a “take-away” in her article.  Lagerkvist, like Ray, also mentions those “data tariffs.”

Other complaints were fairly limited, however.  In fact, the only issue appears to be how slow Google was in releasing this UK-specific version of its mapping service; the US, Canada, Australia, and several European companies got their Mobile Maps first.

On the other hand, Google’s timing is pretty good – a screenshot on the service’s home page would lead users to 10 Downing Street, where they can try to give Tony Blair a fond farewell (or a piece of their mind) before he leaves office on June 27.

Google is the third company this week to be involved in some type of mobile launch or application. Other companies that have launched mobile initiative include Yahoo with their Mobile Publisher service and Microsoft with their ZenZui’s Zooming User Interface, which looks to be a direct competitor to Apple’s iPhone.

Deep Nishar, director of product management, Google, said, "We’re pleased to work with LG to make it easier than ever for mobile internet users to have powerful applications and personalized information at their fingertips."

"Users around the world now have more options for accessing information while on the go through search and Gmail. With applications like Blogger, users are now free to express themselves from wherever they are in the world."

The new LG handsets will have one click access to Google search through an icon in the application menu. They will also offer Google Maps for mobile, Gmail, and Blogger Mobile that will allows users to upload/download images and text to blog from their mobile devices.

LG and Google will jointly market the LG-Google handsets. Google has other similar deals with Sony Ericsson, Motorola and Samsung Electronics to carry their search services.

LG will launch 10 new handsets in 2007 that will feature Google products and services. LG will be shipping the handsets worldwide through North America, Asia and Europe starting in the second quarter of 2007.

Paul Bae, Vice President of the Product Planning Team at LG Electronics Mobile Communications, said, "Building on our efforts to set new standards for wireless handsets, we are excited to partner with Google to offer extra value to consumers with enhanced mobile Internet experiences."

"LG’s mobile devices, combined with Google, will provide consumers with easy access to their favorite Internet services even without a PC and make it easy for them to stay connected while in motion."

The music option on cell phones has gained in popularity with users of all ages with 63 percent of multimedia cell phone users having listened to music on their phones. More than 50 percent have downloaded 20 or more songs, and 89 percent have downloaded four songs or more to their phones.

Music phone users have a variety of choices for buying and downloading music to their cell phones but only 14 percent download directly from their carrier. Sixty-seven percent said they had used a computer to transfer music files to their cell phones from CDs or the Internet.

"Our survey results indicate that consumers are listening to music from their own collection, so virtually any music phone can meet their needs" said Delly Tamer, CEO of LetsTalk. "Customers are making the most of their music phones with cables and memory cards. The industry needs to offer customers a more compelling reason to download songs directly and easily to their cell phones — better prices, easier navigation, faster speeds, exclusive songs, or all of the above."

When questioned about their interest in Apple’s iPhone consumers had mixed feelings. Eighteen percent said they plan to buy the iPhone when it becomes available this summer while 52 percent said they did not have plans to buy the iPhone and another 31 percent where "not sure".

Tamer adds, "Given the suggested price of the iPhone and that it’s the first cell phone from Apple, 48 percent of consumers expressing interest in purchasing this product when it becomes available is impressive. We also believe that this number will likely grow larger as Apple continues to emphasize the many exciting user interface innovations it offers; to be seen primarily as an upgraded music phone would not do full justice to the power of this new device."

If Google plans to take over the mobile Internet world, they appear ready to start in Europe, where the use of mobiles for Internet usage tends to be higher than that of the United States. Should they debut as predicted, the phones will arrive with plenty of Google technology on board.

A report in The Guardian’s Observer said executives from French Telecom’s Orange have visited Google’s California headquarters to discuss a deal. The two companies have very strong and positive brand recognition in the UK.

The story cited a source close to the discussions on Orange’s ‘a-peel’ to Google:

Key to such an endeavor will be Google’s ability to deliver its advertising to users of the phones. The company has been testing geo-targeting extensively for delivering ads to people where the ad is relevant to the person’s location.

If Google can get that done effectively enough to deliver street-level ads, the potential for the effort becomes apparent. In a busy shopping or restaurant district, no business would want to risk missing out on customers because the shop next door shows up in local ads on phones while theirs does not.

Ad competition would move the non-participants to join up with AdWords, the key product to roughly 99 percent of Google’s revenue. More participants would spur competition for better placement in the ads on the phones, which means more spending and more Google revenue.

One aspect of such a deal will be the browser Google uses in the software for the project. Google has been a partner with Opera Software for several months, and Opera has worked extensively on mobile browsers.

Those browsers have Google search as a default on them, and in turn on thousands of handsets around the world. If and when the Google and Orange partnership delivers those mobiles, we expect Opera will be the browser on them.

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David Utter is a staff writer for WebProNews covering technology and business.