360i, a digital ad shop, based in New York City that works with NBC Universal's Bravo brand, just released an 87-page Mobile Marketing Playbook that covers "all major mobile marketing subject areas, including search engine marketing and optimization, SMS, media planning, social marketing, application development and promotion, shopping and barcodes."

The playbook, which can be downloaded here has a 14 page chapter on Mobile Applications. The report starts by quoting Nielsen's prediction that by Q3 2011 "roughly half of U.S. mobile subscribers will use smartphones" a stat that television and video producers will be forced to take into consideration as they develop and spread their content.

"...a valuable insight that validates numerous successful applications on the iPhone and iPad such as Bravo Now, Top Chef Foodie Fight and Guides by BRAVO."

Bravo recognized that while there may be minimal adoption to newer social tech tools, like FourSquare, partnering with the location-based startup was "also an opportunity to reinforce BRAVO as an innovator". Brown reveals that one app that is on their radar is physical-friendly BUMP, that allows iPhone and Android users the ability to exchange data via a tech fist bump. 

 

One 2011 prediction, that Mashable recently pointed out was the race to be the top entertainment check-in. We expect that Bravo and other TV brands will be increasing their partnerships with new technologies that allow TV fanatics to connect socially over television programming.