As numbers of smartphones and tablets are augmenting worldwide, the behavior of folks are also being affected – especially amongst teenagers.

A comparative study of teens’ behavior towards mobile handset devices in 2009 and 2011 in US. The firm has noticed that the median number of texts sent per day increased to 60 in 2011 from 50 texts send per day in 2009.

The number of texts sent per day were higher among 14-17 age groups, sending an average of 60 texts per day in 2011 and expected to send 100 texts per day by coming two years. The firm has elaborated that boys of all teen ages between 12-17 sent 50 texts per day in 2011, up from 30 texts per day in 2009. According to the report, teen girls of older age between 14-17 sent 100 texts per day in 2011, compare to boys of same age who sent just 50 text during same year. Click here to read more.

Verizon Wireless was the first tier-one wireless provider in the world to build and operate a 4G LTE network – the most advanced wireless network technology available – and is currently the leader in 4G LTE. Our 4G LTE network has more than six times the geographic coverage of our nearest competitor’s 4G LTE network.

Verizon Wireless has announced that tomorrow, May 17, 28 new markets will get LTE coverage and 11 existing markets will get expanded LTE coverage. The new markets and expansions bump the total number of markets covered with LTE to 258, blanketing two-thirds of the U.S. population.

Verizon also noted that between now and the end of the year, it will bring its 4G LTE network to more than 140 new markets so, by the end of 2012, the Verizon 4G LTE network will cover 260 million people in more than 400 markets across 49 states.

Verizon’s network was named the “Fastest 4G Network Yet” by Popular Science’s 2011 Best of What’s New Awards and ranked No. 1 on PC World’s 100 Best Products of 2011.

The Verizon 4G LTE network supports a wide variety of 4G LTE-enabled devices ranging from smartphones and tablets to netbooks, notebooks, modems and hotspots to machines. Call into any Mybullfrog store and check out the full range of 4G LTE devices for consumers.

Without really thinking about it there are probably some places that you inherently use your smartphone as a personal shopping assistant when traversing the aisles of a brick and mortar store and other places that your mobile device doesn’t really play a part. A recent Nielsen survey shows that there is a definite correlation between the type of store a shopper is in and how they tend to use their smartphone during the buying process.

For example, of those surveyed, 73% said they have read reviews while inside an electronics store. Other popular places to read reviews while shopping were department stores at 43% and mass merchandisers at 34%. Not surprisingly, places like grocery stores, convenience stores, and dollar stores are not places people commonly read reviews while shopping at, clocking in just 14%, 7%, and 3% respectively. Click here to read more.

It’s faster and downloads more pictures, lets consumers watch movies anytime and video chat on-the-go.

Everyone has heard these claims before, but not everyone is sure what exactly 4G LTE means. Understanding 4G facts and terminology can take some time. To help uncover the mystery that is 4G LTE, below is a quick primer on what it is and how it applies in day-to-day life.

The term 4G LTE is really two terms. 4G means the fourth generation of data technology for cellular networks ̶ following 3G, the third generation. LTE stands for Long Term Evolution and is short for a very technical process for high-speed data for phones and other mobile devices. Together, they make 4G LTE ̶ the fastest 4G service available today.

Being the fastest network available means download speeds four to five times faster than 3G networks, which rivals some home broadband connections. The real hook, though, is the fact that consumers don’t have to be at home to appreciate these speeds. Consumers can access the internet wherever there is coverage with any 4G-enabled device, including smartphones, tablets and mobile hotspots.

The term data means anything other than SMS (simple text messages) and phone calls. Everything else including downloading apps, checking email, watching a YouTube video or downloading a picture requires the use of data. In short, data means everything that a smartphone or tablet is needed to do.

The speed, then, is exactly why so many people are excited about 4G LTE. Cellular data is a part of many peoples’ lives and the ability to utilize and experience the internet in a quicker, richer way opens new possibilities for both business and personal lives.

For more detail, the Wall Street Journal offers insightful analysis into 4G LTE technology and decodes the confusing terminology surrounding it. 4G LTE coverage will only continue to grow as new devices hit shelves and the coverage area expands rapidly. Knowing what 4G LTE means and what the benefits are will help consumers when it comes time to make their next device purchase.

Mother’s Day is just around the corner. If you’re scrambling to find a special gift for Mom, think about a smartphone – one that suits her personality and lifestyle perfectly. There are plenty of great devices out there for every type of mother, and when your mom unwraps the box to find a smartphone just right for her, she will know you put the time and thought into making her day special.

The stylish mom will love the plum-colored HTC Rhyme. If the vibrant hue doesn’t catch her eye, the light up charm accessory certainly will. Plus, it will notify her of any incoming calls or texts, since mom certainly doesn’t want to be out of the loop.

For the multi-tasking mom who wants an easy-to-use smartphone, the Lucid by LG is the perfect match. The stunning 4-inch touchscreen display protected by Corning Gorilla Glass gives superb brightness, enhanced clarity and readability, even while outdoors. The Quick Reply feature lets mom respond to messages on the go.

An on-the-go mom rarely has time to recharge her batteries, which is perfect for the DROID RAZR MAXX. The Maxx has one of the longest lasting batteries available, letting Mom use her phone all day without having to charge it.

Of course, if Mom is perfectly happy with her smartphone, there’s always the Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.7. The Android tablet has full 4G LTE capabilities and an AMOLED screen for easy Web browsing, reading and video-watching. If your mom is looking to slow down and find time for herself, the Galaxy Tab 7.7 could be her reminder to make time for herself.

Mother’s Day comes just once a year so treat your mom to a gadget that’s a perfect fit for her personality.

Smartphones now represent the majority of mobile devices in the, US ahead of basic feature (or “dumb”) phones, according to analyst outfit Nielsen.

The Nielsen bean counters reckon that as of March 2012, 50.4 per cent of American mobile subscribers have a smartphone, which is up from 47.8 per cent, at the end of last year.

The company noted that Apple was the most successful smartphone vendor in the country, and Android the most prevalent operating system.

In fact, Android holds a 48.5 per cent US smartphone market share, with the iOS not miles behind, on 32 per cent. RIM is in third place, but could only muster an 11.6 per cent share, and the picture was just as bleak for Microsoft.

Particularly Windows Phone, which only managed to secure a paltry 1.7 per cent, with Windows Mobile on more than double that, with a 4.1 per cent market share. This is not good news for Microsoft, which is currently attempting to crack the US market with its new OS – although the firm has hit further troubles with the Lumia 900 launch bug (now cured).

Nielsen also noted that 50.9 per cent of female mobile owners carried smartphones, marginally more than men, at 50.1 per cent. Smartphones were most popular among those aged 25 to 34, with more than two-thirds having one in this age group.

The analyst firm further observed that Asian Americans were the top smartphone users by ethnicity, with 67 per cent having a smartphone as their primary mobile.

RootMetrics, the first independent service to measure mobile experience from a consumer’s point of view, announced today their new report, “Catch Me if You Can: A Quarterly Review of Data Performance,” looking at carrier performance from January 2012 through May 2012.

This report analyzes more than 320,000 drive and indoor location data tests collected from 42 U.S. markets, using off-the-shelf Android phones to experience what consumers can truly expect from carriers. Based on the results, RootMetrics observed that, when looking at national carriers, Verizon’s LTE network continues to dominate. AT&T remains squarely in second place. T-Mobile is close on the heels of AT&T, and Sprint is falling behind the other carriers.

For regional carriers, MetroPCS showed interesting opportunities with a history of innovation but Cricket recorded the lowest speeds in all tests.

“This year, we’ve continued to crisscross the country, comparing carriers and putting their data networks to the test,” said Bill Moore, CEO of RootMetrics. “In the end, numbers are powerful and the end results speak for themselves. They provide people with a clearer picture of what to expect from their carriers in real-world conditions.”

Having been in the business of caring for people for decades, Dr. Andrew Barbash says he’s just about seen it all. And, throughout his experience, he said there is one simple step essential to providing quality care to patients – communication.

“Whether caring for an elderly parent who lives hundreds of miles away or reaching a leading expert quickly, today’s technology can ensure a patient gets the answers and assistance needed quickly through virtual care,” said Barbash, medical director of Neurosciences and Virtual Care Services, Holy Cross Hospital, Silver Spring, MD and co-founder of NowDox.

Virtual care brings together patients, doctors, experts, caregivers and family members by using simple and easy-to-use chat and video applications, operating on a super-fast 4G LTE network.

It’s as easy as turning on your tablet or smartphone and pushing a couple buttons to connect online.

But it’s more than just video and chat between two people, it’s all about bringing the right people together to easily share data-rich sonograms, CT scans, MRIs, collaborate in real-time and improve patient care, said Barbash.

Technologies like 4G LTE give us the speed and bandwidth to complete tasks previously unimaginable on a wireless device, he added.

Barbash recalled a recent example where a woman was trying to manage her father’s sudden illness from hundreds of miles away. Unable to travel with her young children, she “visited” her mom and dad virtually, connected with caregivers and determined the best care plan for her father. She did not need to leave home but could, and did, follow-up online each day.

Barbash said the ease of using the technology and its convenience makes it a must have in his office. “Listen, I’m not a gadget guy. Really. And if I can do this, anyone can.”

Drop by any Mybullfrog store and check out the range of tablets available so you can experience this same flexibility in communication. If you would like to look at tablets and wireless connectivity for your business just call our Small Business Advisors on 855.743.1154. The best devices on the nation’s fastest 4G LTE network, backed up by Mybullfrog’s five-star customer service experience – that’s the Mybullfrog difference.

Verizon has announced an OTA software update for it’s first ever 4G LTE smartphone – the HTC Thunderbolt. The update revises the operating software to version 2.11.605.19.

Changes and improvements from this software update include:
- Device is enabled with the wireless alerting system
- Device now supports Cisco Any for better VPN functionality
- Improved data connectivity
- Improved device stability will decrease device resets>br />
- Improvements to default mail application allows Yahoo! Mail accounts to receive messages properly
- Resolved issues with Mobile Hotspot connectivity
- Incoming calls now display the correct state, when applicable

Apple released iOS 5.1.1 today – a minor update that addresses a number of bugs in the platform and brings several improvements to its features.

To start, network switching bugs with the new iPad have been squashed, as well as a bug that interfered with AirPlay video playback under certain conditions. Also, a glitch affecting HDR photos when using the lock screen shortcut has been fixed.

Further changes mentioned in the log include the removal of a bug that prevents Safari from syncing bookmarks, and a glitch that might occur when purchasing software from the App Store.

And this is pretty much all that iOS 5.1.1 will bring to your iPhone or iPad. Nothing groundbreaking, we know, but having the latest software installed on your smartphone or tablet is always a good thing. The iOS 5.1.1 is a bit over 50 megabytes in size, so it should not take too long to download and install.