According to statistics portal Statista Inc., an estimated 140 million Americans are smartphone users, up from 121.4 million in 2012. The research firm anticipates this number will continue to grow and eclipse the 200 million mark by 2017.

Although the popularity of smartphones is not breaking news, it always leads to interesting conversations. One area that seems to be standard with smartphone owners is the use of mobile applications (apps). Even if you don’t have a smartphone, the app world might be impacting you without you knowing it. Last year, for instance, I attended a wedding in which the bride and groom met through a dating app.

Mobilestatistics.com reports that the total app downloads for Android devices lead all devices with 50 billion, followed closely by Apple devices with 48 billion and Blackberry devices at 3 billion. Windows Marketplace download statistics are not available yet, it reports.

With those kinds of statistics, it’s no surprise that beverage brands are developing their own apps in order to reach consumers. This past fall, Seagram’s Gin, a brand of Pernod Ricard USA, launched its new Ginsider mobile app, which allows consumers to scan Seagram’s Peach and Pineapple Twisted Gin bottles to reveal exclusive videos and share them with friends through social media. And recently, as part of its “There’s Power in Every Game” campaign centered around the 2014 FIFA World Cup, The Coca-Cola Co.’s Powerade brand teamed up with fitness app Endomondo to invite consumers to participate in a series of challenges for the chance to win prizes, including tickets to the FIFA World Cup tournament in Brazil.

And now, Beverage Industry is following suit. I’m pleased to announce that Beverage Industry has launched Bev Industry Mobile for iOS and Android-based phones and tablets. Now, all the content and news that you enjoy in Beverage Industry and at bevindustry.com can be viewed on your mobile devices through Bev Industry Mobile.

You can log on to bevindustry.com/apps to download the app for iPhone, iPad or Android devices. For Apple users, the app is compatible with iOS 5.1 and later, and Android owners require version 4.0 or later. If your device has neither of these, don’t worry; we have developed mobile.bevindustry.com, a mobile website. This page can be saved on your device as an HTML5 app.

In order to help you navigate all of the features, Managing Editor Stephanie Cernivec also filmed a how-to video, which can be viewed on our BevIndustry TV portal or on our YouTube Channel, youtube.com/beverageindustry.

And if you have more questions, visit bevindustry.com/mobilehelp, which contains a list of frequently asked questions as well as a mobile support contact icon that is located on the right-hand side of the page.

I hope you enjoy Bev Industry Mobile, and please feel free to share your feedback by sending me an email at jacobsenj@bnpmedia.com.

 Happy mobile apping!