In 2008 Google launched the first Android smartphone, taking a bold step away from the safe and wonderful world of the ‘web’ into the universe of making ‘real things.’ I admit to being a little confounded by this move at the time, feeling that perhaps the masters of the internet were straying from their core business: online search.

The launch of the Nexus One in 2010, along with the surging popularity of the iPhone and other smartphones, made clear that Google’s original move was less about the devices, as it was about accelerating the adoption of internet portability. The smartphones served mostly as delivery devices; untethering the internet from the constraints of a desk or a lap – and placing it firmly in the palm of your hand! This is a profound shift. A shift that serves a dual role of opening up an exciting new ‘internet economy,’ at the same time deepening and enriching the online social networks that form the bedrock of effective social media campaigns.

Having the ‘internet in the palm of your hands’ is a giant step forward. It means that your social networks are ever-present. Whether it’s a fellow employee in the next booth, a neighbor, grandma in another state, your alumni association or an organization doing good work on your behalf in another country – they are always within reach. In your palm, pocket or pocket book.

For the hard-nosed who forgo flowery language for the stubborn bottom line, the measure of the burgeoning ‘portable internet economy’ is perhaps best assessed by the market valuation of these mobile internet delivery devices:

• On the day of the Nexus One’s launch, Google’s market cap rose by a staggering $12 bill and it’s total lifetime valuation stands at $20bill

• The iPhone accounts for around 50% of a apple’s market cap of around $200bill

While these figures price in hardware it’s clear that the bulk of that value derives from the ‘portable internet economy’ that these devices deliver.