Usablenet tops ABI Research mobile commerce vendor matrix ranking
Usablenet has been ranked at the top of the latest non-NFC mobile commerce vendor matrix, according to ABI Research.

The vendor matrix is an analytical tool developed by ABI Research to provide a clear understanding of vendors? positions in specific markets. MyBuys and Moovweb took second and third place, respectively.

To rank companies, ABI Research looked at the level of ecommerce platform integration, SMS functionality and features, mobile Internet functionality and features, and downloadable application functionality and features.

Newsy raises $1.5M to further grow its mobile video news
Mobile video news service Newsy has closed a $1.5 million dollar round of funding.

The round of funding comes from a St. Louis-based private equity firm and will be used to grow the company?s editorial, marketing and sales teams. Recently, the company won the Appy Award for best news app.

Newsy applications are available across iPad, iPhone and Android devices.

Mobile Commerce partners with thomsonlocal.com to roll out LBS app to Nokia Ovi Store
Location-based services company Mobile Commerce has teamed up with thomsonlocal.com to launch the company?s application for the Nokia Ovi Store.

The app lets users access thomsonlocal.com?s database of more than two million businesses.

Users can view detailed information for each business, as well as additional information such as ratings and reviews. Users can select from the most popular categories and search for information on any business near their location or anywhere in the Britain.

Jumptap names Regina Sebring vice president of publisher partnerships
Regina Sebring has joined Jumptap as its new vice president of publisher partnerships.

Ms. Sebring?s new responsibilities include fostering current publisher and application developer relationships and building new alliances.

Prior to joining Jumptap, Ms. Sebring was vice president and general manager at AudienceScience where she oversaw all publisher relationships and business development.

SugarSync enables productivity via iPhone, iPad app
SugarSync is letting users control and share their files and folders via an iPhone and iPad productivity app.

Users can send files from their smartphone, share multiple files or folders at once and manage files and folders while on the go. Additionally, users can share via the native address book on their handset.

Goba partners with nonprofits to broaden audience engagement
Goba is leveraging its existing technologies such as iPhone and Android apps, the mobile Web and SMS to further user interest in healthcare, nonprofit and political areas.

The company is working with hospitals and nonprofits to encourage customers to be more active with friends. Goba recently launched a text to join feature that lets users text a keyword to the Goba short code and an organization presents opportunities to them.

Locus offers environmental data collection via mobile app
Web-based energy and environmental company Locus is letting consumers use their mobile devices to record water levels, pH, turbidity and other environmental readings via a environmental data collection application.

Via the app, the data is collected and the data provisioning setup is performed in EIM. The, users can wirelessly transmit to EIM for review and reporting.

Pulse News enhances Android, iPhone app with personalized mobile news features
Pulse News has enhanced its Android and iPhone applications to feature more personalized mobile news and reading experiences. Readers can now select up to 60 news sources across five customizable pages.

Additionally, the application includes new discovery features that lets users auto-populate an entire page with the top sources for politics, finance and sports. The application also integrates Facebook, Twitter and email sharing contextually within each story.