Social networking tools are proving to be invaluable marketing and engagement platforms for the smart small businesses which have embraced them.

This BBC report provides some anecdotal insight into how several small businesses in the US have benefited by adopting and adapting to the powerful networking potential of websites such as Twitter and Facebook.

Growth in global internet traffic was relatively unhindered by the economic downturn according to a recent IT World report.  International traffic grew 79% over the past year up from 61% in the preceding period.

The fastest growth rates were seen in emerging markets in Eastern Europe, South Asia & the Middle East.  Service providers and carriers have also been eagerly building up their network capacities to handle the expanding traffic.  This should provide an added spur to businesses developing new data-intensive services to tap into this rapidly expanding market.

Since getting an iPhone about a year ago, I’ve found myself using using my laptop less and less often while on the move.  Sure, the iPhone has a tiny screen compared to even the smallest laptop or netbook, but my mobile computing needs are fairly lightweight and not having to lug a laptop around is a blessing.

The success of Apple’s iPhone is attracting host of other companies into the smartphone segment.  Besides the traditional mobile phone manufacturers, traditional PC makers are also eying this buoyant market segment with great ambition.  The devices they are creating are becoming more powerful and  feature rich.  These smarter mobile devices, coupled with increasingly ubiquitous wireless broadband networks, point to an emerging revolution in personal computing.

The BBC News website takes a look at the mobile future and examines how the mobile phone is slowly taking over the mantle as the centre of your social and multimedia experience.