This week is all about your small business — and sharing it with the world.

With mobile’s central place in today’s consumer environment, even small businesses need to consider how to integrate mobile into their overall marketing strategy. You depend on local customers for your business, so you need to make sure that they can find you wherever they are, no matter what they’re doing.

Once you create your app, enter coupon code J-GM-NSBW on the payment page.

Fortunately, it’s cheaper and easier than ever for businesses to create and implement mobile tools that grow their customer base — and their bottom line. With Conduit Mobile’s easy-to-use DIY app maker platform — with special features tailored specifically for small businesses — you can do just that.

Here are some tips from Conduit Mobile to take your small business mobile and reach more customers:

1. Plan Your Mobile Strategy

Small businesses interested in developing a mobile strategy should consider both a mobile site and a mobile app — both of which have advantages for small businesses and their customers.

Here are some tips to help you decide what’s right for your business.

2. Give Your App a Stunning Design

You don’t have to be the next Picasso to design your own app, but you do need to make your app appealing and stand out from the crowd.

Just follow these design guidelines from Tanya, Conduit Mobile’s app design specialist, and you’ll be well on your way to designing a great-looking app your users will love.

3. Boost Revenue by Monetizing Your App

Simply the fact that you have a mobile app for your business already puts you at an advantage over your competitors who have not yet gone mobile. According to Infographic List, 74% of consumers make a purchase based on a smartphone search, 70% of consumers use their smartphone while physically in a store, and 54% use it to find a retailer. To further increase your revenue, monetize your mobile app by integrating a mobile shopping cart, offering coupons, and showcasing your products so that your app users can make purchases directly through your app.

4. Promote Your App & Get More Users

Once your mobile app has been created, perfected, and submitted to the mobile marketplaces, it’s time to start promoting your app in order to get more users!

Conduit Mobile offers a variety of useful tools and tips to help you attract more users and get more downloads.

5. Communicate Directly with Your Customers

As a small business owner, you know what it means to create relationships with customers. A successful mobile marketing strategy allows you to connect with customers on their most personal device, offering them what they want, when they want it.

Conduit Mobile offers several practical features that provide an instant communication channel between you and your users. You can send them geo-targeted push notifications with special deals or your latest events, making sure they are always updated wherever they are. You can also let your mobile users sign up for your newsletter or mailing list so that you can keep them up-to-date on all your latest deals and news.

Your customers are going mobile. Isn’t it about time you met them there? From mobile apps to mobile sites, Conduit Mobile’s simple, yet powerful mobile platform gives you the tools you need to build a community for your brand, connect with your customers, manage your mobile user base easily and effectively, and always stay one step ahead.

Get started on a custom mobile app and site for your business with Conduit Mobile today, and get ready to watch your business grow!

National Small Business Week Special Offer!

In honor of National Small Business Week, we have a special, limited-time offer in store for you! Get the 1^st month for just $1 ($39 value) on our Gold premium plan!

The plan includes:

• Unlimited app installs
• Free app submission
• Premium support
• Unlimited push notifications
• And more!

Once you create your app, enter coupon code J-GM-NSBW on the payment page.

Since then, a lot has changed. Myspace and Friendster are gone (more or less), and a new social media royalty has emerged: Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Pinterest, Instagram and, to a lesser extent, Tumblr, Foursquare and Google+. It’s not only our preferred sites that have changed, but also the way in which we use them. Back in 2003, “mobile” usually meant something to do with cars; today, it’s all about social media.

So, in the spirit of pure speculation, let’s take a look at where our favorite social platforms might be in 10 years from now.

HERE TO STAY: 

Facebook
Last summer, Ironfire Capital Founder Eric Jackson made waves by declaring that Facebook would disappear in 10 years after the Internet’s evolution left it behind, much like Yahoo! and AOL lost their prominence. In Jackson’s mind, Facebook would adapt poorly to a mobile world.
Since then, Facebook’s active user base has grown 23% to over 1.1 billion, and 751 million people are using Facebook on a mobile device, up 54% from last year.
Much of that growth has stemmed from smartphone proliferation in the developing world. In the process, a Facebook profile is becoming the de facto virtual identity for mankind. That’s why Facebook is likely to remain king of the social world, even as new platforms emerge and new devices (Google Glass!) give us new ways of connecting socially.

Twitter
During the last 6 months of 2012, Twitter has added 288 million new active users, a 40% growth rate that outpaced all other social networks.
Why? Much like Facebook, Twitter is now at a similar point in its development cycle, starting to reach all demographics—even the oldies. Users aged 55 and older grew 115% from Q2 to Q4 in 2012, and the 45-54-year-old demo also increased. It’s clear that Twitter now reflects the “everybody’s on it!” appeal that makes Facebook so hard to quit.
The big question hanging over Twitter has been how it will monetize its platform. But there is good reason for optimism. The Twitter advertising API, announced in February, allows brands to create sophisticated ad campaigns and is expected to help the platform pull in $1 billion in revenue per year by 2014.
Twitter’s best monetization opportunity may be with TV marketers. A March study by Nielsen discovered that when Twitter discussion increases about a particular TV show, so do its ratings - and the Nielsen Twitter TV ratings are coming soon. If Twitter can position itself as the official second-screen hub for TV conversation, their revenue questions should be a distant memory.
Over the next decade, the biggest challenge for Twitter may be ensuring that sharing through tweets remains a seamless experience even as we move past smartphones to wearable devices.

YouTube
YouTube is the undisputed emperor of Internet video. It has over a billion unique users each month, and a truly global audience with over 70% of YouTube traffic coming from outside the United States. The platform is also localized in 53 countries across 61 languages.
With so many users and an established stockpile of great content, it seems unlikely that YouTube would fall from its current perch. The better question is whether it’ll overtake the rest of the entertainment industry through original content.
After generating over $4 billion in revenue in 2013, YouTube is definitely in a position to make a big gamble on original content. YouTube has already thrown the dice by funding over 160 original production ventures on the platform since 2011.
It’s a different approach than Netflix’s $100 million gamble on House of Cards, but YouTube and Netflix have different objectives. House of Cards justifies its price tag by attracting new Netflix subscribers and compelling current ones to stay; for Netflix, one show can have a big impact. YouTube, meanwhile, is trying to create a rich, original content ecosystem that’s free, ad-based and potentially rivals traditional TV. That means onboarding a lot of different channel creators and audiences and convincing them that YouTube is a true alternative to TV, not just the place you go to watch crazy clips of people eating cinnamon. 

LIKELY TO STICK AROUND:

Pinterest
Pinterest’s $200 million February investment round at a $2.5 billion valuation certainly indicates that investors don’t think Pinterest is going anywhere.
The two-year-old social network, which lets users create boards filled with pins of the things they love from across the web, has quickly skyrocketed to over 50 million users, and its natural integration with e-commerce has marketers salivating.
But while Facebook and Twitter have become fundamental representations of users’ personal identities, Pinterest’s appeal is more behavior-based. Will people get tired of pinning things to boards at some point over the next 10 years? It’s hard to say.

Google+
Google+ may be outpacing Twitter when it comes to growth, but users aren’t spending much time on the platform.
You’d think this would mean that Google+ would end up on the chopping block much like Google Buzz and Google Wave.  Yet Google is set to release a lot of insanely awesome products over the next 10 years, like Google Glass, self-driving cars, and maybe even a teleportation device if we’re lucky. These products will need a social layer. That social layer will be Google+, though it will likely look very different from the Google+ of today.

Instagram
Instagram’s beauty is in its simplicity. You take photos, add a filter and caption, and share. It’s unlikely that the app will evolve much—besides being adapted for new devices—because it doesn’t need to evolve. Instagram is the type of app people will always want to use.
All indications are that Facebook will allow Instagram to exist as its own entity, but you never know. That’s the only thing keeping Instagram from being a sure thing. 

NOT LOOKING SO GOOD: 

Foursquare
Though Foursquare’s growth has remained steady in reaching 33 million users, check-ins are out.  They’ve simply lost their cool factor, and some are complaining that the platform is starting to look like Yelp’s confused stepbrother. 
Foursquare will most likely live on through its API, which 40,000 developers—like those from Instagram, Evernote, and Vine—are using for its location and venue data, reports Forbes. Foursquare’s API is helping to spawn countless cool apps, so, in a big way, Foursquare will continue to shape the web. 

Tumblr
There’s a good chance we’ll look back at the day Yahoo! bought Tumblr for $1.1 billion as the day Tumblr died. For the past 15 years, Yahoo! has done an impressive job of totally destroying the cool startups they acquire, from Delicious to Digg to Flickr.
Marissa Meyer might be giving Yahoo! a “cool aunt” image, but giving Yahoo! a cool startup is still like letting a psychopathic 5-year-old babysit your rabbit. It just isn’t likely to end well.

To make sure your business is mobile friendly, here are four things you can do to make life easier for both your customers and employees.

1.  Decide whether a mobile website or a native app is right for your business.

A mobile website is simply a website optimized for mobile devices. An app is software developed specifically for mobile devices that must be downloaded, usually from an app store. In a perfect world, you’d have both an app and a great mobile site. But unless you go with a do-it-yourself app builder, apps can be expensive to develop and aren’t necessarily the right fit for many businesses. If you’re not sure which approach is right for your business, check out these pointers.

2.  Make it easy to buy from your mobile site or app.

It’s crucial that consumers be able to purchase your products when the impulse strikes. And that means making it easy to shop from a mobile device. On the small screen, an emphasis on user experience is an absolute must. Amazon’s mobile apps are great examples of how one-click shopping and a clear interface can drive sales. Keep the navigation as simple as possible and don’t make the images so large that they overwhelm the small screen. When it comes to the mobile experience, simple is almost always better. Check out these tips on how to monetize your mobile app.

3.  Turn your smartphone into a mobile office.

Whatever you need, there’s now an app for it. You can’t quite use a smartphone to make coffee yet, but you can use it for almost everything else. You can handle finances with a QuickBooks or Mint.com app and share and store files with Dropbox or the Box app. You can work on documents together with other employees with Evernote and accept payments with Square. You can run demonstrations with your WebEx app and manage company time and expenses via OfficeTime. Your Salesforce app will help you track all of your CRM data on the go. You can even manage all of your customer conversations via Desk.com’s apps. With so many tools, it’s sort of amazing that offices still exist.

4.  Know your mobile customers.

When you’re studying your analytics, it’s important to take a close look at how people are interacting with your site through their mobile devices. Are your users mostly on Android or iOS? If it’s one or the other, does that indicate a problem with one of your apps or mobile sites? Before you can get the mobile experience right for your users, you’ve got to have a thorough understanding of how people are using their devices.

Because the mobile landscape changes so quickly, it’s also important to keep an eye on blogs and magazines that track mobile trends and report on the latest mobile studies. After all, if there’s one clear takeaway from the mobile revolution, it’s that everything can change over a very short period.

Engaging

I was impressed to learn that Lyft – a car-sharing platform – just raised more money than you could stack in a Hummer. They reeled in a whopping $60 million from Andreessen-Horowitz, a Silicon Valley powerhouse.

For those who haven’t heard about Lyft – as in, to give someone a lift – it’s a new urban transportation concept that allows Person A, who owns a car but isn’t necessarily in the transportation business, to pick up and drive Person B to their destination.

Since launching last summer, Lyft has “exploded”, writes TIME magazine. Lyft is now responsible for over 30,000 rides every week in the four cities where they’ve done their heavy Lyft-ing: San Francisco, LA, Seattle, and Chicago. 

Unlike other innovations, such as Uber, the Lyft app doesn’t connect riders with professional drivers. It links its customers with ordinary folks who want to make some extra money by acting as temporary taxi drivers. (And meet some new people at the same time.)

As you can imagine, there’s a thicket of regulatory issues here. To get around some of the red tape, Lyft has structured their fee as a “donation.” (How clever.) In addition, all drivers must undergo criminal background checks and a two-hour training session. I wonder if they’re told not to talk about politics or religion, and to avoid the dreaded Poppy air freshening apparatus.

All kidding aside, there is a lot to be engaged with here. For decades, urban transportation has been an innovation-free zone, limited to tightly controlled taxis and car services, and infrastructure-heavy public transportation. That’s been changed by new technological frameworks – smartphones, apps, GPS, and the like – and evolving mental frameworks. A new psychological space has developed that accommodates the bold idea of peer-to-peer transactions. This includes what’s known as collaborative consumption.

All of this is a natural result of the ever-growing global megatrend toward urbanization. The rise of innovations like Lyft, which are not just about convenience or making money but also the fun of new social connections, will help make cities more livable, productive, and sustainable.

Enraging

As engaging as Lyft is, the demise of Better Place is enraging for a variety of reasons. Again, allow me to paint a few brushstrokes of background before I get on my soapbox.

Better Place was a boldly conceived electric car vehicle and infrastructure program, launched in Israel but headquartered in Palo Alto, that intended to create an entirely new hardware and software solution based on a battery-swapping program. Rather than develop battery technology that could power cars for ever-lengthening journeys (the Tesla approach), Better Place raised $850 million to build a network of swapping stations (at $500,000 a pop). Yet they were only able to convince one auto maker – Renault – to manufacture swap-ready electric vehicles.

In Israel – where the size of the country and the national commitment to move off oil should have created optimum adoption conditions – Better Place was only able to sell a measly 750 cars.

So what do I find enraging about this? It’s not about the money; anyone who invests $850 million in a crazy startup that requires people to change both what they drive and how they drive should be prepared to lose it all. What I find upsetting are two specific aspects of the downfall of Better Place.

The first is, while people will debate the reason for this calamitous failure for a long time, there’s no doubt in my mind that it was in large part a marketing failure. The technology – while not without glitches – worked. But Better Place failed to ignite any consumer passion. Their marketing was flat and uninspiring – just witness this YouTube video, for example. I don’t know if inspired marketing that tapped into both the right and left sides of the brain could have guaranteed success, but I do know that you cannot trigger profound social and behavioral change with ho-hum messaging.

The second upsetting fact about Better Place going to a better place (a wordplay that no headline writer can resist) is that it’s going to make it more difficult for the next electric-vehicle entrepreneur with a world-changing vision to raise the money to do it. That would be tragic indeed.

Sometimes innovation really does “Lyft” off, and sometimes it crashes and burns. But one thing is certain – we’re sure to see a rapid increase in the velocity of both engaging and enraging urban innovations. Maybe one day we’ll meet in the back of a Lyft vehicle and we can talk about it.

Since then, here are some lessons I’ve learned for what to do when your dad starts following you:

 1. DON’T pick family sides. 

My mom is Jewish; my dad is Catholic. Neither is very religious, so I was just raised to really like holidays. Still, when I was accepted on my (free!) Birthright Israel trip, I was very excited and bragged about it on Facebook. In the comments, a couple of friends expressed surprise that I was Jewish, and when I affirmed that I was, my dad stepped in and stole the show with a threat come next Christmas:

 2. DO make your dad feel cool.

In April, my pops texted me a picture of himself with Victor Cruz—the star wide receiver for our favorite (American) football team, the New York Giants—after meeting and drinking with him at an airport bar. Immediately, I realized a few things:

1)     He probably had no idea how to post a picture from his phone to Facebook.

2)     Deep down, every dad wants to be called a G (gangsta, for those that didn’t grow up on the swampy streets of New Jersey).

3)     This was the perfect opportunity to call my dad a G.

We haven’t spoken about it, but I know he loved it.

3. Even if your dad ritually passes out on the couch at 8 p.m. following every holiday meal, DON’T post pictures of it that accentuate his very full belly.

You will be forced to do all the dishes in the morning.

4. DO create a bunch of fake accounts purporting to be attractive former high school classmates of your dad, and use them to catcall/comment on all of his pictures.

He’ll feel great, his wife will get irrationally jealous, and no one will be the wiser.

5. DON’T share a post that you wrote about all the weird stuff you do to your dad on Facebook. 

Because if he ever reads this, it’s going to be seriously awkward.

This job lies in the hands of our incredible team of support specialists. With over 500 apps created on our platform every day, they work into the night to make sure that our newcomers feel right at home, while also tending to the needs of our more experienced publishers. In fact, the support team is so essential to the success of Conduit Mobile, we’ve dubbed them “superheroes.”

Like traditional superheroes, they too have extraordinary capabilities, remarkable skills, and, as legend has it, even supernatural powers! Above all, they possess an undying devotion to keep our publishers supported at all times. So while they look tough on the outside, you’ll see that once you get to know them on a more personal level, they’ll become more human — and more approachable — than you ever imagined.

Without further ado, here are the major players on the Conduit Mobile Support Team who make magic happen day in and day out.

First up: our three support specialists. Together, this trio is dynamite! There’s not a thing they don’t know about the world of mobile, and they even know more about your app than you do.

Roi (aka The Teacher) – The Guardian of Freemium Publishers 

Roi looks after those of you who have just opened up a new account and are getting into the groove of Conduit Mobile with a first-time app. Known as “The Teacher,” he likes to impart his wisdom of Conduit Mobile’s features on those of you who want to know more about our platform’s capabilities.

Best thing about my role: Helping publishers develop an app that can be tailored to their business.
Favorite app feature: ‘Forms’ because any business can take advantage of it.
Quick tip: Design, design, design! That’s the name of the game. And don’t forget to take advantage of all our custom options. 
If I were an app: I would love to be Instagram, but just for food…yummy! 

Sagi (aka The Operator) – The Protector of Premium Publishers

Sagi, the techie of the trio, is known as “The Operator.” You will often see him on one of his six phones, trying to solve the cross-platform issues that an app may be experiencing. Somehow, he still has a spare hand to type replies to a variety of technical questions. His beloved dog, Dolly, who is training to become the world’s best guide dog, is always by his side.

Best thing about my role: Being on the frontline and understanding our product better through the experience of our publishers. Oh, and listening to music while working.
Favorite app feature: LiveAlbum! It’s very interactive and a great tool for various events.
Quick tip: Understand the target audience and purpose of the app. That’s the key to interacting with and attracting new users and customers.
If I were an app: I’d be anything, really…as long as I’m well-designed and interactive!

Amit (aka FedEx) – The Leader of the Pack 

The logistics of our support team’s tasks alone would make your head spin. Luckily, Amit has a supernatural talent for organization and an abnormal concentration level. In fact, the office can be in full flow, and Amit will still be concentrating on solving the next problem, no matter how complex it may be. All these qualities combine to ensure that he is well deserving of his nickname, “FedEx.” Why? Simple…he always delivers!

Best thing about my role: Seeing publishers’ apps succeed in the app stores, and knowing that we helped them in the process.
Favorite app feature: ‘Contact Us’ is an essential feature for any small business, as it makes it super easy for users to learn more or get in touch.
Quick tip: Less is more. Keep your app simple and do a few things really well.
If I were an app: I would be Mailbox, the king of the email inbox. So many emails, so little time!

Next up are our submission specialists. They work with you and your apps to make sure that the complex submission process is as painless as possible. Trust them and you will save yourselves countless hours of upload time.

Yael (aka Mind Reader) – The App Store Expert

Yael is in charge of submitting apps created on the Conduit Mobile platform to the various marketplaces. She is known as the “Mind Reader” because she knows exactly what the Apple App Store and Google Play are thinking when it comes to apps. (Check out her blog post on this topic.) Yael’s superpower is evidenced time and time again in happy emails from publishers whose apps are now live on the app marketplaces.

Best thing about my role: Helping people overcome the Apple barrier so their apps can make it to the prestigious App Store.
Favorite app feature: Social feeds. Go social with Facebook, Twitter, and other social networks all under one roof!
Quick tip: When submitting your app to Apple, make sure it not only looks good design-wise, but also includes at least three iOS features, such as: LiveAlbum or Audio, Forms, and Catalogs.
If I were an app: I would be Waze because without me, how would your app find the best way to the app stores?

Tomer (aka The Scrounger) – The Google Play Pro

Anyone who has seen the film “The Great Escape” knows that The Scrounger always finds what others need. Well, that’s Tomer down to a T! He understands exactly what your app will need to get past the guards of the marketplaces. A small content change here, a design tweak there, and your app will sail nicely into the app marketplaces.

Best thing about my role: I love the problem-solving element to it. Everyone has a problem and it’s my job to find a solution.
Favorite app feature: User Reviews — the ability to provide your users with a voice is such a powerful tool in today’s consumer-focused world.  
Quick tip: When uploading your app, think about how your app may be perceived by others. This will put you in a strong position in both the design and submission stages.
If I were an app: Shazam all the way. It’s useful, clever, and helps solve essential questions all day long…just like me!

Nir (aka Chatterbox) – The App Maximizer 

Nir is our publisher engagement specialist. His greatest strength is his voice, which he uses all day long to contact publishers in order to support them with their questions about Conduit Mobile’s platform and features list. If you want to know how best to maximize the power of your app, just ask Nir! But be careful, after a chat with him, you will have so many great features to choose from, you won’t know where to begin.

Best thing about my role: Getting to speak to such a diverse spectrum of app publishers, from shop owners and churches to veterinarians and veterans. Every sector in the world can make good use of a mobile app.
Favorite app feature: The ‘Collections/Catalogs’ feature rocks! I think it’s a fantastic way to showcase products for sale or services you offer in an aesthetically pleasing way. It’s like an app playground of cool items to look through and buy!
Quick tip: Customized icons, headers, and backgrounds can change the entire layout of the app, giving it a one-of-a-kind look. I’ve seen some very unique customization, and it really makes the app stand out.
If I were an app: I would be Viber so I can chat all night to our customers for free, no matter where they are around the globe!

Now that you’ve met our superstar team and learned how they can be of service, feel free to say hello, ask them questions, or give them feedback about the wonderful service that they provide. Message them here, and you’ll hear back from one of our superheroes in a flash!

HMH FUSE Algebra 1 (Ages 14-16)

The HMH Fuse Algebra 1 Common Core Edition is a personalized learning application that you can find available for free on iTunes. This app features various tutorials, step-by-step examples, homework help, and tips and hints to help students learn, review, and assess their knowledge. The tools integrated in this app—such as Algebra Tiles, Linear and Quadratic Explorer, scratchpad, graphing calculator, or the student response system for instant feedback—make learning a much more enjoyable experience. Through the Teacher Resource Center, educators can access their students’ assessment results and, if necessary, prescribe additional interventions. The app is now available for Android devices as well. You can check for updates on the HMH FUSE website.

See. Touch. Learn. (Ages 3-18)

This free iPhone and iPad application was created by professionals for children of all ages, and particularly for those with autism or other special needs. The app completely replaces your physical flash cards, as now you can have them all on your smartphone, laptop, and other similar devices. The free version of See. Touch. Learn. includes a starter set of high-quality custom image cards and over 50 professionally designed exercises. The Pro version is available for $34.99. You can also purchase some of the additional libraries that feature more than 4,400 new pictures and lessons.

Oxford Picture Dictionary, Second Edition (All ages)

The Oxford Picture Dictionary app for iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch is based on the best-selling print dictionary and is a must-have app for education. There are around 4,000 different terms categorized in 12 thematic units, each including everyday life phrases and expressions that help students put those words and images in the correct context. You can use the app alone or in combination with the print dictionary to provide the most effective vocabulary solution.

PBS Parents Play & Learn HD (Ages 2-8)

PBS Parents Play & Learn is an interactive app designed for parents to play with their kids and keep them engaged through games and hands-on activities. The theme-based games connect math and literacy skills to everyday experiences that are familiar to both parents and children: going to the grocery store, cooking in the kitchen, being at home, etc. Each game comes with information for parents about the skills taught, and provides suggestions for effective ways in which they can interact with their child when playing. This app is free and can be downloaded from the App Store or Google Play, depending on your device operating system.

SlateMath for Kids (Ages 5-7)

SlateMath for Kids is a free iPad app designed to get children ready for kindergarten and/or first grade math and to help them develop mathematical intuition and problem-solving skills through playful interaction. The application was created by early-age math education experts and includes numbers, digit writing, counting, patterns, order relations, and other basic skills.

Animoto (Ages 13-20)

Animoto is a free iPhone, iPod touch, iPad, and Android application that enables students to create professional-quality video clips by taking photos and selecting their video style, music, and text. They can preview and edit their videos before they produce them, and when they are satisfied with the work done they can easily share their masterpieces via email, Facebook, Twitter, or save it to their Camera Roll.

POETRY from Poetry Foundation (Ages 12-22)

For the young poetry lovers comes this universal iOS and Android app, POETRY from Poetry Foundation. Students can enjoy thousands of poems by classic and contemporary poets including Shakespeare, T.S. Eliot, Pablo Neruda, César Vallejo, Emily Dickinson, and many others. With this free app, they can discover new poems, search for old favorites, or save the poems they’ve found to read or share later.

Brian Cox’s Wonders of the Universe (Age 10+)

This is a great educational app for anyone interested in investigating the universe. For only $5.99, professor Brian Cox will guide you on a journey starting from the smallest particles, through the Solar System, and out to distant galaxies, before finally returning to the edge of the known universe. The app features 3D models of planets, moons, galaxies, and nebulae. It also includes beautiful images from around the cosmos and interactive articles that tell the story of the universe.

Springpad (Ages 12-22)

Springpad is a free application that helps students get organized, be more productive, and get everything they need whenever and wherever they need it. The app is compatible with iOS and Android devices, and allows users to bookmark websites and check them later, create personal to-do lists with reminders, collaborate on projects, or follow trusted experts to always stay on top of the latest trends.

School Fuel (Ages 10-18)

School Fuel is an educational app that connects teachers and students in the classroom and on the go, featuring customized app libraries based on subject areas, grade level, and Common Core standards so that students get the relevant library at the right time. This application is free and compatible with nearly any device, including Android phones and tablets, iPhone, iPad, and Windows Phone.

 1. It’s All About Cross-Industry Attraction 

New York has long been the undisputed home of many industries: fashion, finance, marketing, and media, among others. That’s what attracts job-seekers to the city. But it’s also what attracts tech companies and tech talent.
Indeed, we may be fast approaching a time when it makes little sense to talk about tech as an entirely separate sector. Almost every major business today is in the tech business in one way or another.
“There are a lot of different sectors that are here,” Katherine Oliver of the Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment, told NY1. “We’ve got the financial world, we’ve got the advertising world, we’ve got the media world and the creative community. So it’s wonderful to have a week like this where we can focus and really put the spotlight on new businesses that are growing in New York and taking advantage of what’s at their fingertips.”

Put another way, New York has become one of the capitals of the tech world as a result of it being one of the capitals of the business world. 

2) IT and Marketing Are Tying the Knot 

Once siloed departments that only interacted in the elevator or at drunken Christmas parties, IT and marketing are now getting very intimate.
It makes sense. After all, IT departments know how to gather and analyze the “big data” that marketers need to do their jobs well.
“We decided then that it made no sense for marketing and IT to be separate, so they were combined,” Eduardo Conrado, Senior VP of marketing and IT at Motorola Solutions, said at the Marketing+Technology Summit hosted by BtoB and AdAge.
Only 6% of IT departments currently support business initiatives such as marketing, but Conrado sees that changing. “In my view, that should be more than 50%,” he said.

3) Ad Targeting Is the New Black 

Attracting the attention of second-screen viewers, who turn their attention to Twitter and other apps as soon as a commercial comes on TV, is a major challenge for the tech industry. On Thursday at Internet Week, Twitter unveiled a possible solution. 
Twitter’s new ad product will serve ads to users based on the commercials they’re watching on TV in real time. How does this work? Say you’re watching “New Girl.” Twitter’s new technology will note when there’s a commercial break during “New Girl,” and if you’re tweeting about “New Girl” at that moment, Twitter will show you ads relevant to the commercials that are likely playing in the background. 

Overall, programmatic ad buying was a hot topic all week, with Digiday even examining how ads may follow us throughout the real world.

Ultimately, this is just a taste of Internet week; with so many ideas being shared in so many places, you’d need a full football squad to see it all. The ultimate takeaway? The Net is evolving rapidly, and if you’re not thinking about ways to revolutionize it, you’re not thinking hard enough.

It now feels almost inevitable that smart devices will be replacing both cash and credit cards. In fact, online purchasing could one day very well eliminate the need for cash or credit cards altogether.

A recent study conducted by Elon University and the Pew Research Center predicts radical changes in the way we pay by 2020. Janna Anderson, director of Elon’s Imagining the Internet Center and co-author of the study, explained that “mobile money” represents more than just a more convenient way to pay. It’s also, Anderson writes, “an opportunity to implement security measures that are lacking in our current financial systems, to offer consumers more control over their spending and to even reinvent the way we think about the concept of ‘money.’”

The transition away from credit cards for some payments may already be underway. But that doesn’t mean there won’t be a lot of complaining from entities heavily invested in current payment practices. As Jonathan Grudin, principal researcher at Microsoft, explains in the new Pew/Elon study, the credit card industry may ultimately determine when the “virtual wallet” replaces credit cards. “The driver here will virtually 100% be whether or not the credit card industry decides it can make more money through changing technologies,” said Grudin.

Of course, the credit card industry isn’t the only factor limiting the growth of alternative payment methods. Sometimes a sound financial infrastructure can actually stand in the way of progress. In the developing world, where the financial systems are shakier, mobile payments are often the most reliable payment method available. In the U.S., by contrast, more than 90 percent of citizens have bank accounts and can already make convenient and reliable electronic payments. Right now, there are few incentives for consumers, retailers, and communication companies to create the necessary infrastructure to completely do away with credit card and cash transfer payments.

Still, if there are obstacles in the way, it’s clear that the U.S. and the rest of the world are headed in the direction of mobile payments. The number of mobile payment users worldwide increased from 70.2 million users to 108 million users between 2009 and 2010, representing an increase of 54.5 percent. And U.S. mobile payments are expected to grow from $81 billion in 2012 to $214 billion by 2015. Information technology research and advisory company, Gartner, anticipates mobile payment growth to average 42 percent per year between 2011 and 2016, totaling $171.5 billion by 2016.

Perhaps the best evidence of all that mobile payments are our future is the simple fact that major companies such as Google (Google Wallet) and PayPal are already trying to own the space.

The UN says there are now about six billion active cell phones in a world populated by seven billion people. As more smartphones pop up in Asia, Eastern Europe, and Africa, and as mobile users in the West continue to look increasingly toward alternative forms of payments, the conclusion seems obvious enough. It’s hard to say exactly when it will happen, but in the near future, worrying about losing your wallet will be a thing of the past. But don’t celebrate too soon — you’ll still have to keep track of your phone. 

Let’s take a look at three success stories that show how some publishers are taking online journalism to new heights.

For the Foodie: Eater

The Internet makes finding great places to eat really easy, and at the same time, really hard. Food blogs pepper the web, with countless people in every city, town, and village telling readers where to eat. So whom do you trust and how do you sort through it all?

That’s where Eater steps in. Eater, an expert source for anybody looking to grab a great bite, is a foodie’s dream. But it’s also great for those who don’t read cookbooks like novels. Founded in 2005 by Lockhart Steele and Ben Leventhal in New York, Eater has branched out to 16 more cities around the country, and also features a national site.

Eater covers the whole spectrum: Its writers don’t just review five-star establishments that charge two months’ rent for a five-hour dinner. They also inform readers about the local pizza joint, the great lunch special at the neighborhood sushi restaurant, and the piping hot donuts being sold out of a hole-in-the-wall around the corner.

Eater covers the new and the old, the trendy and the traditional, the fancy and the frugal. The writers review restaurants, post about new openings and city nightlife, and write about general food and drink happenings around the country. With welcome sarcasm and refreshing honesty, Eater keeps chefs on their toes, reminding us that great food and drink come in many forms.

For the Music Junkie: Pitchfork

The advent of online journalism has changed the nature of music writing and reviewing. Music lovers have always sought a true authority on the contemporary music scene to tell them where to look and whom to listen to. Though print publications like Rolling Stone still thrive, they have focused more on mainstream artists in recent years, leaving music-aficionados who are searching for the next big thing without a clear guide. Individuals can rant and rave as much as they like on the Internet and blogosphere, but they often lack the expertise of a true authority.

In steps Pitchfork, founded in 1996 by Ryan Schreiber. Pitchfork is like your cool friend with impeccable taste. The team of music fanatics behind this site sifts tirelessly through albums of lesser-known bands, looking for emerging talents and artists to keep an eye on. Where Pitchfork really finds its stride is in its freedom from the limitations of print journalism. Its writers are uninhibited by a need to sell a certain number of copies, or to pack all of their commentary into a neatly bound package. Their reviews are honest, and not limited to popular artists.

Pitchfork also offers more than just album reviews. Between concert listings, music news, and the annual Pitchfork Music Festival in Chicago and Paris, it is a go-to source for all things indie music. Their festival truly embodies their mission: an eclectic mix of passionate people and artists gathered to celebrate good music.

For All: Narratively

Founded in September 2012 by Noah Rosenberg, Narratively looks beyond the flashy headlines displayed so prominently in mainstream media. This exploratory platform brings to light those other stories we want to hear: the untold stories. Seeking to “slow down” the news cycle, Narratively shares the unique narratives of individuals, traditions, and events that make up the fabric of New York City culture.

The dedicated team at Narratively is made up of journalists pulled from top news institutions, such as The New York Times, The New Yorker, and Rolling Stone, to name a few. As journalism evolves with emerging technology, these journalists are adapting.   Narratively utilizes both traditional and non-traditional forms in order to build better content. A combination of long-form journalism, short stories, essays, video, audio, and photography allows the team to explore the delivery of news beyond the limitations of print. The journalists are careful to strike the right balance between new technology and the news story – quality, not quantity, is paramount.

With innovators such as these three, we need not fear the demise of traditional journalism. Quite the opposite: The future of news consumption looks more exciting than ever.

We’re very proud and super excited to announce that our mobile platform and the apps created on it have already been recognized for several distinguished awards this year.

Horizon Interactive Awards

The Horizon Interactive Awards is a prestigious international competition recognizing outstanding achievement among interactive media producers. The competition recognizes and awards the best websites, videos, online advertising, print media, and mobile applications. Each year, the Horizon Interactive Awards receives thousands of entries from all over the world.

This year we are honored to have picked up six awards for apps created on the Conduit Mobile platform. The apps run the gamut from business to charity organizations, music, and education.

Sweet Relief Musicians Fund – Business; Silver Award

Rivershore Golf Links – Productivity; Silver Award

Basketball Manitoba Scoreboard – Entertainment; Bronze Award

Waka Flocka Flame – Entertainment; Bronze Award

Sunriver Experience – Business; Bronze Award

Judson ISD Connect! – Education; Bronze Award

The Webby Awards

Established in 1996, The Webby Awards is the leading international award honoring excellence on the Internet. This year there were over 11,000 entries from all 50 U.S. states and over 60 countries.

We are exceptionally proud that two Conduit Mobile apps were announced as Official Honorees: Waka Flocka Flame in the Music category and Judson ISD Connect! in the Education & Reference category.

We’re delighted that the apps created on our platform are being recognized in their respective industries. (But we’re definitely not surprised!) Their excellence in design, user experience, functionality, and innovation demonstrates that when an intelligent idea is teamed up with our platform, the sky is the limit.

So as we toast to another great year, we’d like to say that we are committed to continuing to provide industry-leading mobile services to ensure that the apps you create through Conduit Mobile keep shining in the spotlight.

If you haven’t created your mobile app yet, it’s about time you did. Get started with Conduit Mobile now, and we just might be talking about your award-winning app in 2014!