Mobile device applications and social networking sites have both become increasingly more prominent in the daily lives of most Americans. Not only do these technologies allow us to stay connected, but they also share a common requirement of ubiquitous broadband service. A study by Arbitron and Edison Research reported that more than half of Americans 12 and older now have Facebook accounts, a new digital milestone.

Additionally, applications for smartphones and tablets are always evolving. Brookings Institution just announced their new application for iPad that enables a user to read research, run a calendar of events and search the organization’s database. Google is teaming up with Citigroup and Mastercard to create a new embedded technology in Android mobile devices which allows consumers to make purchases by waving their smartphones in front of a small reader at the checkout counter.