Business
Social Engagement Series: 8 Reasons You Can’t Afford to Miss the Mobile Wave [Report]
By now you’ve probably heard the buzz surrounding mobile media and mobile marketing. If you’ve zoned it all out so far, you’ll want to tune in now.
The UK Embassy in Beijing has a QR code to access its Sina Weibo account.
Investment firm Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers’ (KPCB) comprehensive annual Internet Trends slide deck boasts some staggering mobile statistics for 2013.
If you enjoyed our post on the 2013 Social Media Marketing Industry Report, we’ve extracted the 8 most relevant points from KPCB’s extensive 117-slide report that you’ll need for your business.
So, why mobile? Because the key to successful marketing and customer engagement is to learn what medium consumers use most and put yourself and your business in front of them in that medium, and we’re already three years into the mobile age.
Pretty soon, not being available on mobile devices will be as crippling for your business as not having a company website at all.
The Top 8 Reasons Why You Need to Get on Mobile Marketing from KPCB’s 2013 Internet Trends Report
1) Mobile Internet traffic has been and continues to be on the climb. It’s currently 15% of all global Internet traffic, a 5% jump from last year.
2) Almost everyone and their mom has a phone. There are now over 1.5 billion smartphone subscribers, and over 5 billion mobile phone users overall, a 31% growth from last year. The top two smartphone markets are China and the U.S., in descending order.
At this point, people are hooked on their phones. The average person reaches for his phone nearly 150 times a day. Texting is the top reason to reach at 23 times a day, calls are #2 at 22 times a day, and time-checking rounds out the top three at 18 times a day.
As such, mobile operating systems have the lion’s share of the global market share.
3) Mobile operating systems (iOS, Android, Windows Phone) have 88% of the global Internet market share, an 83% jump from six years ago. Even among the three, iOS and Android surpass Windows Phone by 25%.
That said, if you’re finally warming up to smartphones, another mobile wave is already here: tablets.
4) Tablets are already eclipsing smartphones. iPad sales have tripled from last year — 140 million units were sold so far this year versus just under 60 million iPhones.
Tablets are starting to outsell laptops and desktop PCs as well after only three years. Approximately 115 million tablets have flown off the shelves compared with about 80 million laptops and roughly 30 million desktop PCs.
Tablets are even in their own league separate from computer vendors. Apple and Samsung are the top two tablet vendors, versus HP and Dell for laptops and PCs.
5) Online education is on the rise. 32% of students are taking at least one online course as of May 2013, causing more schools to supply their students with ebooks to read on tablets and ereaders instead of physical textbooks.
Furthermore, there are far more open-source online learning platforms available for those who desire a skill without spending thousands on college, including iTunes U, Coursera, and Codecademy (free web design and app coding courses). In fact, iTunes U accounts for 25% of open-source online course enrollment, and Coursera accounts for 35%.
The KPCB report even lists Twitter, YouTube, and Google Docs as the top three Internet learning tools as of 2012.
6) As if that wasn’t enough, mobile Internet use has moved to automobiles as well. Google’s car is completely unmanned and runs on the mobile web (GPS, etc.). Remember the Social Media Marketing Industry Report’s mention of auto manufacturers integrating podcasts into their new models? That’s mobile Internet use.
KPCB reports that Internet radio service Pandora has higher mobile and vehicle use (approximately 60% and 13%, respectively) compared to listening via PC.
7) Mobile is wearable too. Thanks to health and fitness apps and websites, more people own wearable Internet-connected devices (anklets/bracelets, pedometers, etc.) which post their fitness results on the web. Google’s Glass has also joined the mobile mix as a wearable computer.
8) Mobile web transactions are far more prevalent now. In China alone, 9 million QR codes are in use as of March 2013, a quadruple jump from 2012. 42% of them are used for passcodes (coupons, rewards, tickets, etc.), 33% for ad promotions, 22% for data, and even 3% for payments.
There are even taxi reservation apps in which China citizens can competitively bid for a cab, push to talk to a cab driver, and/or track the driver’s arrival for their pickup in real time.
Additionally, more people are handling their finances online. There are already five emerging online financial services with explosive growth over the past year:
- Chase Mobile has nearly tripled growth, processing over $29 billion in gross online payments per year
- Square, the mobile payment device and service made popular by the Apple Store, has already tripled its growth from last year, processing over $15 billion in gross payments to date
- Bitcoin has quintupled its 2012 revenue with over 18 million cumulative transactions
- Lending Club has tripled its revenue from last year with over $1.8 billion in loans issued to date
- Free bill payment app Check has seen a whopping 17-fold increase from last year, processing over $500 million in bill payments per year
If you were still on the fence about going mobile, these findings are all the motivation you need to start asking around.
Share this post with your networks and bookmark it. You’ll definitely come back to it.
Photo of UK Embassy in Beijing taken from the Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers 2013 Internet Trends Report, Slide #63.
ORLANDO, Fla. (FNN) — As the holiday season approaches and school cafeterias prepare to close for winter break, Central Florida organizations are joining forces to ensure that thousands of local children continue to have access to nutritious meals.
AdventHealth, Orlando Magic and Local Partners Mobilize Holiday Bus to Support Food-Insecure Families. Orlando, Florida, Monday, December 1, 2025. Photo by Monica Hoyos / Florida National News
AdventHealth, the Orlando Magic, Florida Citrus Sports and Second Harvest Food Bank are providing grants to support schools and food pantries across Orange, Osceola and Seminole counties, benefiting the nearly 200,000 students who rely on free and reduced-cost lunch during the academic year.
Dr. Maria Vazquez, superintendent of Orange County Public Schools speaks with local media about community partnerships to provide meals for students over the winter break. Orlando, Florida, Monday, Dec. 1, 2025. (Photo by J. Willie David III/Florida National News)
“For many of our students, school meals are a vital source of nutrition. When schools close for winter break, that need doesn’t go away,” said Dr. Maria Vazquez, superintendent of Orange County Public Schools. “Together, we’re ensuring that every child has access to healthy food and the opportunity to thrive when they are not in school.”
COMMUNITY IMPACT & EXPANDING SUPPORT
AdventHealth’s most recent community survey found that food insecurity remains a major challenge in Central Florida, with more than half of school-aged children relying on school as their primary source of nutrition. To help bridge the gap, AdventHealth is launching the “Drive Out Hunger” Holiday Bus, which will stop at schools, hospitals, sporting venues and community hubs throughout December.
At each stop, residents will be encouraged to donate canned and non-perishable foods. With support from Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida, every item collected will be delivered directly to school food pantries and community partners.
“Helping children and families feel whole starts with meeting their most basic needs, and that includes access to healthy food,” said Sharon Line Clary, senior vice president of Community Impact and Partnership Engagement at AdventHealth. “This initiative reflects the heart of our community: people and partners uniting to lift one another up.”
AdventHealth Leads Regional Effort to Ensure Children Have Meals During School Break. Orlando, Florida. Monday, December 1, 2025. Photo by Monica Hoyos / Florida National News
REGIONAL RESPONSE TO A CRITICAL NEED
Nearly 590,000 Central Florida residents — including over 150,000 children — face food insecurity on a daily basis. School district leaders say this collective effort is a tangible example of how community collaboration can relieve stress for families.
Serita Beamon, superintendent of Seminole County Public Schools, speaks with local media about community partnerships to provide meals for students over the winter break. Orlando, Florida, Monday, Dec. 1, 2025. (Photo by J. Willie David III/Florida National News)
“Strong schools are built on strong communities, and we are so grateful for AdventHealth who shares our commitment to caring for the whole child,” said Serita Beamon superintendent of Seminole County Public Schools. “Their generous support of our school food pantries will help ensure that students have access to meals when they’re off campus. This investment strengthens our community and provides critical support for our most vulnerable students and families and directly reflects how AdventHealth lives out their mission to care for our community.”
“Food insecurity remains a major concern in our Osceola County community and remains the primary pre-condition for learning,” said Dr. Mark Shanoff, Osceola County School District superintendent. “When community partners wrap their arms around our children and families during this pivotal time, it ensures stability and hope.”
Second Harvest Food Bank Chief Development Officer Greg Higgerson said the organization is grateful for AdventHealth’s leadership and the alignment of local partners in supporting families beyond the classroom.
For more than 115 years, AdventHealth has served the Central Florida community as a not-for-profit health care provider. This holiday season, its mission continues beyond the hospital doors — delivering nourishment, compassion and support for families in need.
For the full schedule of Holiday Bus stops and the list of most-needed food items, visit: www.FeelWholeHoliday.com
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News@FloridaNationalNews.com
ORLANDO, Fla. (FNN) — Florida National News (FNN) proudly announces that for the “10th year” it will deliver full, real-time and post-event coverage of the prestigious 2025 Don Quijote Awards Gala, taking place Saturday, December 13, 2025, at Epcot’s World Showplace Pavilion in Orlando, Florida.
This year marks another milestone in FNN’s 10-year commitment to spotlighting business excellence, leadership, cultural impact, and community advancement across Florida’s Hispanic and Latino communities.
FNN’s coverage will include:
Red carpet arrivals and honoree interviews
Event highlights and on-stage presentations
Speaker and award-winner remarks
Professional photojournalism and multimedia content
Same-night and next-day article reporting
Live updates through FNN’s English and Spanish digital platforms
Florida National News continues to serve as a trusted bilingual independent news outlet dedicated to elevating stories of achievement, service, and influence within Florida’s diverse communities.
J. Willie David, III, President of Florida National News stated:
“Florida National News is honored to once again cover the Don Quijote Awards, a premier celebration recognizing individuals whose stories of perseverance and success inspire the next generation of leaders.”
Jenny Rosario, Vice President of Florida National News, added:
“At FNN, we are not just reporting — we are preserving the stories of innovators, visionaries, and community champions. The Don Quijote Awards shine a spotlight on those who embody resilience and cultural pride, and we look forward to amplifying their voices on a statewide and global stage.”
Follow FNN on-air, online, and across social media for continuous Don Quijote Awards coverage as we bring audiences exclusive access to honorees, presenters, and distinguished guests.
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (FNN) — Florida’s tourism industry delivered record-breaking economic benefits in 2024, generating $133.6 billion in economic impact and saving the state’s more than 9 million households nearly $2,000 each in taxes, according to the 2024 Economic Impact of Tourism study released by VISIT FLORIDA.
Out-of-state visitors spent $134.9 billion in Florida last year, a 3.0% increase from 2023. U.S. travelers accounted for $120.1 billion of that total, while international visitors contributed $14.8 billion. The study also showed that for every dollar spent by visitors, 99 cents remained in Florida, boosting local businesses, wages, and public revenue.
Record-Breaking Tourism Growth
Florida welcomed 143 million visitors in 2024, marking the highest annual total in state history. Tourism accounted for 7.8% of Florida’s nominal Gross State Product, and the sector continued to be one of the strongest pillars of the state’s economy.
“Our tourism industry is critical to Florida’s strong economic position,” Governor Ron DeSantis said. “Florida remains the top destination for travelers from across the country and the world because we prioritize freedom and safety. Tourism fuels jobs and keeps Florida’s economy strong.”
Major Tax Revenue and Household Savings
Tourism-generated activity produced $33.6 billion in federal, state, and local taxes in 2024, a 3.3% increase over the previous year. Without this tax revenue, Florida households would have paid an additional $1,730 annually to maintain current state and local government services.
“Tourism drives Florida’s economy,” said Bryan Griffin, President and CEO of VISIT FLORIDA. “This data demonstrates the value of Florida’s investment in tourism marketing. Florida’s 9.1 million households are saving nearly $2,000 a year because of the tax revenues generated by Florida tourism.”
Strong Workforce and Wage Growth
The tourism sector supported 1.8 million jobs in 2024, representing a 1.8% year-over-year increase. Tourism-related wages totaled $79.9 billion, including $44 billion in direct wages—a 4.6% increase from 2023. For every visitor dollar spent, 59 cents directly supported worker salaries, up from 2023 figures.
The report, produced by Rockport Analytics, applies a revised methodology that has been retroactively implemented for previous years. Year-over-year changes reflect these updated calculations.
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