The media analytics folks at Facebook have found the Like button to be incredibly useful for generating data on Facebook’s more prolific users and web traffic. It seems the ominpresent Like Button (though only months old) has allowed Facebook to leverage its more active users to better compete with Twitter in the world of content-referral traffic.

Suggested by Chris Bernardi

Windows Phone 7 launching in US exclusively with AT&T

On November 8th, the suite of Windows Phone 7 devices will be released in stores across the U.S. with AT&T serving as the platform’s sole carrier. Many industry experts are surprised by this move, which leaves carrier giant T-Mobile out of the picture at a time when Microsoft’s position in the mobile marketplace is far from secure.

Suggested by Markus Wuersch and Jeff Walker

LinkedIn’s CEO: Yahoo Is In A Position To Do For Browsing What Google Did For Search

LinkedIn CEO Jeff Weiner offers his thoughts on the future of his alma mater, Yahoo, where he served as EVP of the company’s Network Division. According to Weiner, Yahoo has the potential to play a pivotal role in the next wave of internet innovation by leveraging its unique access to the information portal, search, and social relevancy.

Suggested by Ivan Mitrovic and Ron Braunfeld

Is Geomium the app to take location truly mainstream?

Geomium, an innovative new social geolocation app, is poised to fill a sizable void in the marketplace. The company aims for it’s app to be everyday use local & social app that attracts a wider range of consumers across the spectrum of tech fluency. Geomium CEO Michael Ferguson describes the app as one that “provides local information quickly and easily with a ‘friend locator and map built right in”, an idea which hasn’t quite been realized by existing local-based social apps.

Suggested by Erin O’Bannon

BlackBerry Phones to Adopt QNX in the Future

Rumors that Blackberry’s smartphones will one day be powered by QNX operating systems have been confirmed by a VP at RIM, with the release of BlackBerry 7 the most likely future date for a full switch. Given the range of hurdles such a switch would create, RIM is by no means rushing towards making this big shift. At the moment, the company is more focused on the recent release of developer opportunities for BlackBerry 6.

Suggested by Jeff Walker

Apple’s Mobile Ad Business Is Just As Big As Google’s

According to IDC forecasts recently published by BusinessWeek, Apple will hold the same share of the mobile market as Google by the end of 2010. Obviously this stat is impressive for Apple but more importantly it alludes to the largely untapped mobile advertising market, where the IDC predicts only $500 million will be spent this year.

Suggested by Walt Doyle

Microsoft demoes Twitter and Netflix apps for Windows Phone 7, releases final dev tools

Twitter, Netflix, Travelocity and more are planning to launch Windows 7 mobile apps for the 2010 holiday season. This news comes as part of Microsoft’s announcement that the WP7 developer tools are finalized. While nothing dramatic has changed sinc beta, the new Bing Maps SDK is now up and running, providing access to a plethora of mapping opportunities.

Suggested by Chris Bernardi

Forty Percent of Groupon Merchants Say Never Again

A recent study performed by Rice University’s GSB shows that 40% of Groupon merchants polled would not give the company repeat business. Merchants sited poor tips and angry customers (due to lack of product or wait time) as key reasons for dissatisfaction. The study’s author, Uptal Dholakia, argues that the Groupon customer demographic is comprised of uber-thrifty shoppers, limiting the potential rewards for the merchants Groupon connects them with.

Suggested by Mary McKnight

Read the full press release here.

Interested application developers can find out more here.

WHERE is one of the most popular local applications for smartphones. It quickly helps put the people, places and things consumers are looking for at their fingertips. Local content available through WHERE includes everything from the weather, news, and restaurant reviews, to the cheapest gas, movie show times, and the ability to connect with other users on the WHEREwall. In addition to an overall enhanced UI, new features available in this product include the addition of a Sports Wall and location fix by both cell ID and GPS to better enable speed and accuracy.
“We are thrilled to be expanding our product offering to BlackBerry users on the Verizon and Sprint networks with the launch of WHERE for the BlackBerry® Tour™.” said Walt Doyle, CEO of WHERE. “Given the popularity of WHERE on other smartphones such as the BlackBerry® Storm™, we feel confident that this new version will meet with great success.”

In addition to this new version for the BlackBerry Tour, WHERE is available for the BlackBerry® Storm™, BlackBerry® Bold™, and BlackBerry® Curve™ 8900 smartphones. To download the WHERE application for BlackBerry smartphones, please visit BlackBerry App World™ (www.blackberry.com/appworld) or www.where.com from your BlackBerry Browser.
About WHERE
A service of uLocate Communications, WHERE® is a local mobile application that provides consumers with information about the people, places and things around them. Local content available through WHERE includes everything from the weather, news, and restaurant reviews, to the cheapest gas, movie show times, and the ability to connect with other users on the WHERE Wall™. WHERE also enables brands and advertisers to reach a local audience.

WHERE has achieved widespread distribution through partnerships with leading carriers such as AT&T, T-Mobile and Sprint and handset manufacturers such as Apple, RIM, and Nokia.

The BlackBerry and RIM families of related marks, images and symbols are the exclusive properties and trademarks of Research In Motion Limited.