Web browsing via mobile devices is growing and iOS from Apple is the operating system of choice for such activity, according to new data from NetMarketShare.

In December, 52 percent of mobile Web browsing took place via iPhones and iPads. Web browsing was evenly split between iPhone and iPad devices. 16 percent occurred on Android devices.

All told, Mobile devices accounted for 8 percent of Web traffic, up from 4 percent in February 2011.

Mobile Web browsing is growing at the expense of desktop browsing, which had a 96 percent share at the beginning of last year and ended the year with a 92 percent share.

IOS’ strength in terms of Web browsing is especially significant when you consider that iOS is not the dominant smartphone operating system — Android is. Android sales also are suprassing iOS and accounted for 53 percent of sales in the U.S. according to recent data from Kantar Worldpanel Com Tech.

Twitter will earn $139.5 million in ad revenue this year, more than doubling the $45 million the site booked in 2010, according to a new forecast from eMarketer.  By 2013, eMarketer estimates Twitter’s ad revenue will reach nearly $400 million.

These numbers actually suggest a decrease in expected revenue this year. The lower projection is a result of a slower-than-expected rollout of several advertising initiatives, including a platform enabling advertisers to buy ads on a self-serve basis and sales offices outside the US. In January, eMarketer forecast that Twitter would have $150 million in ad revenue this year.

This year, 96% of ad revenue will come from the US. By 2013, US sales will account for 88% of Twitter’s ad sales and will rise to $351.6 million.

Total online advertising spending is projected to hit $31.3 billion this year, according to eMarketer, and the latest data shows these projections are likely to be met. But just because more and more ad inventory is being thrown in front of users, it doesn’t mean consumers are paying attention.

Unlike much of the rest of the economy, online advertising is alive and kicking. US online ad spending grew 23% in the first half of 2011 compared to the same period in 2010, totaling $14.9 billion for the six months, according to the Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB).

Advertising on search is up 27% this year. Within display advertising, sponsorships and online video posted the most aggressive gains, at 93% and 42.1%, respectively. Compared to last year, the retail, travel and financial services industries saw the highest rises in online ad spending, at 41.7%, 40.8% and 33.5%, respectively.

Consumers: Not So Fast…

This push in advertising means consumers are further inundated with opportunities to click and engage with advertisers. But just because an ad takes over the homepage of your favorite website or interrupts your online game, it doesn’t mean we’re paying attention.

Over the past 6 months, about half of internet uses clicked on an ad, according to findings from CrowdScience.  That means half didn’t.

As you get older, you’re more likely to click. 76% of internet users ages 55 and over had clicked on an ad, compared to 58% of online consumers ages 15 to 24.

Consumers most often clicked on ads that either made them interested in considering a product or showed them products already of interest, illustrating the importance of maintaining brand presence throughout the purchase funnel.

The reasons for not clicking on ads varied by age and gender, but the majority of users who declined to click did so based on perceived lack of ad trust or relevancy.

Deal-of-the-day sites, often featuring a group buying component, have taken off over the past year, with startups like Groupon getting big fast and major internet properties like Google and Facebook looking for their own ways to get in on the action.

Consumer spending on deal-a-day offers is expected to increase more than 35% to reach $3.9 billion by 2015, according to a March 2011 forecast by BIA/Kelsey.

Daily emails from sites like Groupon and LivingSocial have become popular among users. In 2009, Groupon had sales of $33 million. That number rose to $760 million last year.

The consumer interest has res

ulted in major internet players, including Google, Facebook, to try and find ways to enter the market.

In its most optimistic scenario, BIA/Kelsey projects that daily deal sales could exceed $6 billion by 2015, representing a 47.4% compound annual growth rate.

Online purchasing grew to $165.4 billion last year, according to the U.S. Department of Commerce. That accounts for a 14.8% increase over 2009.

eMarketer predicts online shopping —  excluding travel, digital downloads and event tickets – will exceed $188 billion in 2011.

As ecommerce activity continues to grow, so does the number of people shopping online, eMarketer estimates:

• 2011 – 148.1 million online shoppers
• 2015 – 170.3 million online shoppers

96% of U.S. teens 12 to 17 will use the internet at least monthly by the end of the year, according to eMarketer. More than 80% use social networking websites.Much of their time is being spent on Facebook.

A recent report from Harris Interactive found 75% of youths aged 8 to 24 are using online social networking sites, with 68% hitting a site at least daily, according to a recent report from Harris Interactive.

Facebook Users by Age:

• 85% of 18 to 24 year olds use Facebook
• 71% of those 13 to 17 are on the social network
• 28% of kids aged 8 to 12 are on Facebook

Teens are surpassing their adult counterparts significantly online and in the social networking space. Overall, 74% in the U.S. use the internet and 64% of U.S. internet users hit social networking sites.

The largest share of U.S. display ad revenues will go to Facebook for the first time this year, eMarketer estimates, replacing Yahoo for the top spot.

Display ad revenue for the social network will hit $2.19 billion – an 81% growth. 21.6% of all U.S. display ad dollars will be spent on Facebook, alone. Net U.S. ad revenues spent on the social networking site now surpass those of Microsoft or AOL.

Despite being displaced by Facebook, growth of 16% is still expected for display ads at Yahoo, giving the company 16.4% of the market. Google will have 12.6% of the display ad market.

Google Grows Search Lead

Google still will dominate the search market with an increase in market share of nearly 4 percentage points, to 75.2%, according to eMarketer. Total net U.S. ad revenues at Google will be up 23.5% this year to nearly $12.4 billion.

Microsoft is expected to end the year with 10.8% of the search market. Search revenues at Yahoo! will continue to decline to $1.1 billion, or 8.1% of the market.

More than half of U.S. internet users log onto Facebook at least monthly, if not more often, according to eMarketer. 132.5 million U.S. web users are expected to use Facebook this year, eMarketer forecasts.

That is a 13.4% increase in users and will account for 57.1% of internet users. Of those using social networking sites, nearly 90% use Facebook. After this year, Facebook’s growth is expected to slow to single digits. By 2013, 62% of web users and 47.6% of the overall US population will be on Facebook.

On Twitter, growth rates will be higher, but relatively few online Americans use the microblogging service. Last year, 16.4 million U.S. adults — 9% of the adult internet population —  used Twitter.

Growth will surpass 26% this year as Twitter reaches 11% of internet users and 16.5% of US adult social network users. By 2013, nearly 28 million Americans will be tweeting.

During the last six months of 2010, QR code scanning increased 1200 % in North America, according to a report from Mobio Identity Systems Inc. The report found usage is varied and vast:

• Facebook and Twitter both have played a role in the increased use of QR codes in Canada and the U.S.
• Gen X and women are likely users of QR codes
• QR code-enabled mobile payments also are increasing in use

QR Codes offer marketers versatility and options. Not only is a QR code eye-catching and compact, it is interactive and can contain extensive amounts of information. Options include product information, sending an email or text, rendering a mobile webpage or providing a coupon or other incentive. They are now appearing in Times Square and on product packaging, alike.

QR codes are a good way to bridge traditional media, such as print, with digital. QR codes are now being seen in magazine ads and on the door of popular retailers. Google Places is including a QR code in the door stickers being provided to local businesses. Conferences are using a QR code to embed contact information that attendees can swap and share.

How it Works

QR codes are a unique, two-dimensional matrix barcode. Its advantage is that a QR code can hold far more information than a traditional barcode. A camera on a smartphone is used to read the QR code, which then initiates a function on the phone, such as sending an email or text message, or opening a web browser and going to a specific page.