Social media, phones Ally

Social media and mobile phones are growing increasingly close, a relationship evident at this year's big wireless conference in Barcelona. The mobile industry's international trade show, which in the past has focused almost solely on wireless carriers, saw a host of new faces this year. Twitter Chief Executive Dick Costolo delivered a keynote address. Facebook was the star of two new phones by Taiwanese handset-maker HTC Corp. And the location-based social-media app maker Foursquare announced it is expanding internationally, bringing five new languages to its users. The new relationship reflects a shift in the way people communicate. According to Android chief Andy Rubin, social media is now on the continuum of ways that people interact. "There are different forms of communication for different situations," he said. Sites like Facebook and Twitter have had apps available on cellphones for years. But those apps are becoming increasingly important to the business models of social-media sites, carriers and handset makers.