Gays and Lesbians Leading the Nation in Mobile Internet Usage

Some new data was just published showing that gays and lesbians are among the leading groups in the nation when it comes to mobile internet usage. And no, hours spent on Grindr was not one of the survey metrics. It turns out that we're more likely than the general population to own Smartphones, and more than twice as likely to make purchases from them. In fact, in the past week, 28% of us have made a purchase using our Smartphone, 63% of us have found info on a local business using it, and 36% of us have used it to receive or redeem deals or specials like Groupons. The data was published in 5th Annual LGBT Community Survey by Community Marketing, Inc., which can be found here. 

Global smartphone market penetration to exceed 50% by 2015

Read more here. 

Apple Removes Anti-Gay App

Apple has removed the controversial "Manhattan Declaration" app from its app store after more than 7,000 people signed a Change.org petition urging Apple to remove it. The free app included the 4,700 word document, which users were asked to electronically sign, and a four-question survey. One question asked, “Do you support same-sex relationships?” Users who answered “yes” were told that they had replied incorrectly.

In a statement to ABC News, Apple said the app was removed because “it violates our developer guidelines by being offensive to large groups of people.”

Responding to charges that the Manhattan Declaration is homophobic and anti-gay, the group said it doesn't believe that "disagreement" is "gay-bashing" and insists that the language it uses "to defend traditional marriage and the sanctity of human life...is civil, non-inflammatory, and respectful." The group also said it has written to Steve Jobs urging him to restore the app.

Mobile Ad Spending Skyrocketing Thanks to Apple

Source: AdAge

Next Big Thing: Facebook Places

The world of mobile check-in is about to change in a major way. For those of us previously limited to Yelp, Gowalla, Foursquare and the like; say hello to Facebook Places. While many might say this utility from Facebook is far overdue, my guess is they've been waiting to really get this right on both their mobile site and app. I predict a real game changer for businesses, brands, and dare I say it - human behavior in the way we make social decisions about who and where.

Samsung

I think Samsung is so smart. It looks like they've really expanded their interactive displays at DFW, and presumably in other airports too. Here's a tunnel you can actually walk through and check out all their cool new phones. Not far away is a bar where you can power up your own electronics and check out more of their latest products. People were literally flocking to this tunnel to check it out. I'll have to get a picture of the inside next time. Compare that kind of interaction with how people usually interact with a billboard or a magazine advertisement. 


I'm not bashing traditional media in its entirety, but I don't know why more brands don't invest in nontraditional efforts like these that maximize aperture by connecting with consumers in specific, controlled environments and contexts such as this. What better time to think about cell phones than when you're stuck at the airport with nowhere to go and nothing to do until your flight departs – except play with the one thing that's guaranteed to be in your pocket: your phone.


UPDATE: Here's a picture of the inside:

Two Canadian Cities Ban Virgin Mobile's Outdoor Ads

Calgary and Mississauga, two Canadian cities, have pulled Virgin Mobile's outdoor kiosk and billboard advertisements that show two men kissing, citing that they're inappropriate in places where families or children can see them. 

In response, Virgin's CMO said, “Virgin's advertising always tends to have an edge to it. We're very interested in creating advertising that creates discussion. It's quite interesting for us because these are the sorts of images people are bombarded with every day.”

Good for Virgin Mobile. It's not like they have to be worried about losing market share from traditionalists.

HRC Launches "Buying for Equality" iPhone App

The Human Rights Campaign just launched a new tool in the fight for corporate dignity and fairness towards LGBT American's. Their new iPhone app will allow shoppers to access the Buying for Equality guide as they enter a store to see how hundreds of popular American brands are rated based on the businesses’ treatment of their LGBT employees.  The iPhone application is available for download at www.hrc.org/iPhone.  Both Apple, and the iPhone’s exclusive service provider, AT&T, score 100% on the 2010 Corporate Equality Index.

The LGBT community is estimated to have $712 billion in buying power this year, according to research by Witeck-Combs Communications and Marketresearch.com. A recent study by Witeck-Combs/Harris Interactive also found that 78 percent of LGBT people are extremely or very likely to consider brands that are known to provide equal workplace benefits for their employees, including LGBT workers.

Buying for Equality is an annual publication of the Human Rights Campaign Foundation that directs consumers to support fair-minded businesses through their purchasing decisions. The guide draws comparisons between products, services and retail outlets that consumers use on a daily basis. The ratings are based upon the HRC Foundation’s Corporate Equality Index which, this year, rated a record 305 at 100 percent. The CEI is the foremost method for businesses to evaluate their diversity and inclusion efforts toward recruiting and retaining LGBT employees, customers and investors.  To learn more about the HRC Buying for Equality guide visit www.hrc.org/BuyersGuide.

Sunday Spotlight: Virgin Mobile

I love Canada. Virgin Mobile Canada created this print ad as part of their "fearless" campaign that launched in September. Their television, print and out-of-home ads encourage people to "hook up fearlessly" with secret lovers during the holidays–including this execution of two men kissing, which Virgin is running nationally across Canada. The work is another home run by rising-star agency Juniper Park out of Toronto. The agency recently won the Quaker Oats business from Goodby, so you know they're onto something.

Now There's Even an App That Lets You Pay for Coffee at Starbucks

Now There's Even an App That Lets You Pay for Coffee at Starbucks

Shared via AddThis