tag = "Carriers"

Though they probably never saw it coming, mobile phone companies have a new secret weapon: social networking. Indeed, thanks to our growing usage of social networks like Facebook as communication tools, more and more people are signing up for mobile data plans, which are far more lucrative than increasingly commoditized voice services. Of course, so far smartphones have gotten most of the attention, but information gathered by at least one handset company makes clear that even budget phones with a focus on web services can facilitate the consumption of large amounts of data.

Other labels, like Texas Instruments, reported plans to reorganize investments that more prominently prioritize mobile social networking. French mobile carrier Orange — which partnered with Apple for the iPhone — incorporates unlimited access to Facebook and MySpace in special pricing packages. (Other data use is metered.) Movidia — which has $14 million in venture capital at its disposal — recently built a processor that enables users to conduct sophisticated video post-production via mobile.