Local Search Queries Increase With Smartphone Growth: Report

People are searching for more local items on their mobile phones as the popularity of smartphones rise and become more common, according to a six-month study conducted by The Kelsey Group. Release. Several companies are competing in this space, including online giants, such as Google (NSDQ: GOOG), Yahoo (NSDQ: YHOO), Microsoft (NSDQ: MSFT) and AOL (NYSE: TWX), but also mobile-specific plays, including Medio Systems, JumpTap and others.

Some of the findings:

— 17.6 percent downloaded or looked at maps or directions, up from 10.8 percent in 2007
— 15.6 percent searched for products or services in their local area, up from 9.8 percent last year
— 14.3 percent searched for products or services outside their local area, up from 6.4 percent last year
— 13.7 percent got information about movies or other entertainment, up from 8.2 percent last year
— 9.6 percent connected with a social networking site, up from 3.4 percent in 2007.

Comments have been disabled for this post