Last week, we learned of an anticipated increase in mobile crime due to a proliferation in smartphone use.

This week, we learn of a spike in non-voice communications (such as text messaging, email and Internet access) due to the same growth in the smartphone space (i.e. mobile phones with operating systems).

The new study, which was released last week by BIA/Kelsey and research partner ConStat, says this growing class of non-voice users represents more than one-fifth of all mobile consumers. Among mobile users:

1. 48.2 percent sent or received more than 10 text messages per week
2. 21 percent had more than 10 Internet accesses per week
3. 20 percent sent or received more than 10 emails per week

In addition, the study says local searching now exceeds out-of-market searches by a wide margin. Among consumers using mobile devices:

1. 18.5 percent searched the mobile Web for local products or services (which is up from 15.6 percent in 2008)
2. 15.9 percent obtained information about movies or other entertainment
3. 13.3 percent obtained information about restaurants or bars
4. 11.1 percent searched the Internet for products or services outside their local area
5. 4 percent purchased a physical item that needed to be shipped (such as a book)
6. 3 percent used a coupon from their phone

The study also said that 16.7 percent of people connected with a social network (such as MySpace or Facebook), which is up from 9.6 percent in 2008. The BIA/Kelsey study, which is called Mobile Market View, tracks mobile user behavior.

This wave of the BIA/Kelsey study, which was the third, was conducted in Oct. 2009 via an online 40-question survey. The study surveyed 504 U.S. mobile phone users aged 18 and older. The first wave was conducted in Sept. 2007 and the second wave was in Oct. 2008.

Page Plus Cellular, which was in the news two weeks ago for lowering the price of its standard prepaid wireless plan, has now announced an expansion to its international service.

The prepaid wireless carrier, which is a mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) that uses the nationwide Verizon Wireless network, now allows its U.S. customers who travel to other countries to continue using their Page Plus cell phones.

The countries added to the Page Plus service include Mexico, Canada and the island territories of Bermuda, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Though Page Plus customers have previously been able to place calls to these countries from the U.S., they can now place and receive voice calls and text messages while traveling to them as well.

The international roaming rate for calls within Mexico and Bermuda is $1.10 per minute. Calls within Canada, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands are 60 cents per minute. Calls from the U.S. to Puerto Rico will remain at the previous rate of 12 cents per minute. U.S. calls to Mexico and Canada are still 34 cents per minute.

The texting rate for Page Plus users within these countries is 50 cents per message sent and 25 cents per message received. The international text messaging rate for messages originating in the U.S. remains at 20 cents per message.

Page Plus Cellular in Oct. 2009 launched its Talk n Text 1200 plan, which provides 1,200 voice minutes, 1,200 text or picture messages and 50 megabytes of data for $29.95 a month. In Aug. 2009, the carrier released its Unlimited Talk n Text plan for $39.95 a month.

Learn more about the other prepaid wireless carriers here. Learn which networks the prepaid wireless carriers use here. More information about Page Plus Cellular can be found below.

1. Page Plus Lowers Standard Rate
   
2. Prepaid Wireless Carrier Ratings
   
3. Cheap Page Plus Texting

Buying a cell phone as a gift for your grandparents can be daunting. Several companies exist, though, to empower seniors by adapting technology to them rather than expecting them to adapt to technology.

This new article covers cell phones and plans from Doro, Jitterbug and Consumer Cellular.

Designed with the help of a professor in ergonomics, Doro cell phones have oversized buttons to make dialing easier with stiff hands and low vision.

The Jitterbug J cell phone, on the other hand, features a large, backlit keypad for easy dialing along with a bright color screen and easy-to-understand menus. Learn more here about cell phones specifically designed for seniors!

With Thanksgiving this Thursday, Black Friday follows for one day only.

Black Friday 2009, which falls on Nov. 27, 2009, is a day when retailers dramatically reduce their prices on a wide array of items. The goal is to convince consumers to spend heavily at drastic discounts.

As usual, early morning risers will get the best selection and doorbuster products will likely sell out as the day wears on. Here are some cell phone-specific deals for Black Friday 2009 at Best Buy and Radio Shack.

Black Friday 2009: Best Buy Cell Phones

1. LG Chocolate Touch for Verizon Wireless: Free with two-year activation
2. BlackBerry Curve 8330 for Sprint: Free with two-year activation
3. Samsung Instinct S30 for Sprint: Free with two-year activation
4. Motorola Rival for Verizon Wireless: Free with two-year activation

Black Friday 2009: Radio Shack Cell Phones

1. LG Xenon for AT&T: Free with a new two-year plan
2. BlackBerry Curve 8520 for T-Mobile: Free with a new two-year plan
3. Motorola CLIQ for T-Mobile: $79.99 with a new two-year plan
4. Palm Pre and Palm Pixi for Sprint: $99.99 with a new two-year plan

Best Buy is open at 5 a.m. on Black Friday. Their online sale starts at 2 a.m. EST on Thanksgiving. Radio Shack is open at 5:30 a.m. on Black Friday.

You can find the full images of the Best Buy and Radio Shack ad scans here for their Black Friday 2009 cell phone deals.

The online retailers HandCellPhone.com and BestInCellPhones.com also have some compelling Black Friday 2009 cell phone deals.