Entrepreneurial software developers are rolling out new services daily, such as “location-based” apps that tap into a phone’s GPS to determine the user’s location presenting unique options and opportunities.

The apps are making a difference. As of mid-February, Southwest Airlines became the first U.S. airline to introduce an iPhone app last year, betting that an easy-to-use application could generate an untapped base of customers who might otherwise avoid surfing the Web on the phone. Southwest’s app was the most popular travel-booking download in the iTunes App Store, according to Michael Van Houweling, Southwest’s director of online marketing. In a survey of frequent business travelers conducted by PhoCusWright in 2008, 71% said they have used a smartphone for business during their trips. Such third-party applications remain the most popular services among travelers. But with smartphones representing a new sales channel, the travel industry is aggressively migrating to the mobile platform.

Starwood’s Aloft Hotel in Lexington, Mass., is testing a keycard using radio frequency identification, or RFID, technology. The hotel has distributed RFID keycards to some loyalty program members, who receive text messages on the day of arrival that disclose the room number. Guests can go directly to the room and tap their assigned card through the sensor on the doorknob to unlock the door.

 GPS enabled mobile apps not only offer more convenience, they filter and focus targeted and relevant  location aware promotions and ads. Mobile search ad spending in the U.S. is expected to grow to $531 million this year, up from $242 million in 2009.

Counting over 250 million U.S. mobile subscribers, statistics indicate that 50 million households currently bank online and the projections of “Online Banking Report” predicts 18 million more mobile banking users by 2011. The number of banks offering mobile services more than doubled in 2009 –  According to a 2008 survey from Fiserv Electronic Banking Services 75 percent of respondents would use mobile banking services when offered.

The ultimate in mobile proximity marketing converts cash on hand to cash in the hand of a subscriber shopping with friends and don’t forget to download those mobile coupons.

Find yourself, find your friends with the new GPS Tracking App by LOCiMOBILE.

GPS Tracking App by LOCiMOBILE hooks you up with Twitter and Facebook connect. With one click you can post a note along with your location to both Twitter and Facebook. What could be easier? Available for iPhone and Android platforms. Click here to learn more about GPS Tracking.

“Pew Internet studies have shown that wireless Internet users are different from other online adults in important ways: they are 36 percent more likely than wired Internet users to access the Internet on a given day, and they engage in virtually all online activities (including email, social networking, and blogging) at higher rates than other internet users.”

According to Pew, about 80 percent of US adults have cell phones, with 37 percent connecting to the Internet or email. “Overall, 26 percent of American adults say they get some form of news via cell phone — that amounts to 33 percent of adult cell phone owners and 88 percent of adults who have mobile internet.” For the broader category of cell phone users, those seeking news varies by age: 43 percent for those under 50 and 15 percent for those over the big five-oh.

What do these mobile information hounds most care about? The weather (72 percent); news and current events (68 percent); sports scores (44 percent); traffic data (35 percent); financial data (32 percent); and news alerts sent by text or email (31 percent).

According to Pew Internet: “The typical on-the-go news consumer is a white male, age 34, who has graduated from college and is employed full-time.”  Many gadget companies target younger (ages 25-34), educated males for that reason. The same demographic going after online information may also be likely to buy bleeding-edge gear — say, a new Android Phone.

Pew’s study may also help explain some odd findings from last week’s AdMob study — that the majority of Android users are male (73 percent). By comparison, iPhone: 57 percent. Additionally, 51 percent of Android users are between 25 and 44 compared to 42 percent of iPhone users.

GPS Tracking Lite Version 1.3 boasts a new bold graphical interface as well as Turn by Turn directions and you can send a text along with your location. You are also presented with a map of all GPS Tracking users around you.

Thanks to you, GPS Tracking by LOCiMOBILE has been downloaded well over 100,000 times. To thank you we are giving away some great prizes in our GPS Tracking Valentine’s Giveaway. Three lucky winners will walk away with a beautiful bouquet of flowers or a valuable iTunes gift card (the choice is yours.) If you have not registered for the free giveaway, you may sign up here.

Thanks again and good luck in the giveaway!

TOP FIVE COUNTRIES AFTER USA
TO DOWNLOAD LOCiMOBILE^® APPS

	1. France (overtakes UK)
	2. United Kingdom (falls 1 spot)
	3. Singapore (overtakes Canada)
	4. Canada (falls 1 spot)
	5. Australia (holding strong)

France makes a decisive push to overtake the United Kingdom in this week’s “iPhone GPS Apps download statistics by a country” contest.

Here at LOCiMOBILE, we hold a friendly competition to see which country will download the most iPhone GPS Apps each week.

Singapore continued their push to overtake Canada and place third this week. Canada falls a spot to fourth just ahead of Australia who trails (among the top five.) Will the Canadians and the UK fight back? Only time will tell.

Australia holding strong in 5th place. It will be interesting to see if the Germans and The Netherlands can push Australia off the chart and make the top 5 next week.

Monitor the competition closely to see how it all unfolds by visiting the LOCiMOBILE GLOBAL DOWNLOADS page.

LOCiMOBILE makes GPS Tracking Apps for iPhone and Android. Their newest iPhone app “GPS Tracking” made the iTunes top 25 download list with over 100,000 downloads in the first month. To learn more, please visit www.locimobile.com

LOCiMOBILE released version 1.2 of their popular GPS Tracking App available for both iPhone and Android.

Some great improvements and additions to the already stable and robust app include the following.

Text messaging

By popular demand, LOCiMOBILE has added the text messaging feature because sometimes you need to send a little note along with your location. Now you can send text with your map. For example, “I’m running 5 minutes late” or “I’m just around the corner” or “I brought your check”. Text messaging is one of the handy new features in the GPS Tracking App.

Turn by Turn Directions

GPS Tracking allows you to see your location on the map, and to see your friend’s location on the map. Now you can get convenient turn by turn directions provided by Google Maps service. This service generally gives you the “fastest possible route” to your friend. You can even choose to view heavy traffic zones, which to avoid.

Pin Point Accuracy with Privacy

GPS Tracking is a very useful app for both iPhone and Android platforms. It’s easy to use. Provides a quick and easy map to your contacts. The privacy feature allows you to ignore requests from friends when you’re busy or don’t want to be found. Only send your location to those you trust.

The app comes in several varieties. A paid or unlimited version for iPhone for just $3.99. A free trial version for iPhone. To get the Android version, visit the Android Market on your mobile device and search for GPS Tracking.

Visit LOCiMOBILE.COM for more info.

GPS Tracking App	Text Messaging
Turn by Turn Directions	Pin Point Accuracy

There is a growing problem; DISTRACTION — A potentially injurious combination of a PERSON, with a MOBILE PHONE and an OBSTACLE like other people, the pole of a street sign, a toy left on the steps, a parked or even a moving vehicle.

“It’s the tip of the iceberg,” said Jack L. Nasar, a professor at Ohio State, noting that the number of mishaps will most likely increase as texting is rising sharply and devices like the iPhone have thousands of new, engaging applications.

However, certain iPhone and Android Apps reduce the likelihood that you will become an accident statistic. Check out GPS TRACKER. It will provide the precise location of one or all of those in your contact list and send a TXT MSG along with the location (LOCi) request – not only combining two tasks into one, but just in case you walk into an object larger than yourself, you’ll be able to alert friends or family of your location and the inconceivable happenstance.

By the way, if cell phone multi-tasking has become a habit, then you might also want to take a look at Code Amber’s Alertag – A secure digital personal ID tag that will provide first responders to emergencies with the vital information needed to make an informed treatment assessment as well as who to call.

We think it’s a good idea to anticipate the unexpected.