Potentially challenging similar plans by Google and other Web giants, Amazon is reportedly considering a service to let consumers pay for goods in stores using their mobile phones. "The company's Amazon Payments unit is exploring whether to start a service based on so-called near-field communication technology," reports Bloomberg, citing sources. NFC lets devices transmit data such as payment information, loyalty points and coupons by tapping them against specially equipped cash registers. "Amazon ... aims to parlay its dominance in Internet retailing into mobile commerce," Bloomberg adds. Microsoft and Google have introduced or are said to be planning software, devices …

About 250 million people are now actively using Facebook mobile on a monthly basis, the company said this week. It's a staggering number, no doubt, and it represents about half of Facebook's total user base. To create a more cohesive mobile service, Facebook is unifying its mobile Web sites into one interface. As Mashable reports, the social network currently has two primary mobile websites: touch.facebook.com, designed for smartphones with touch-screens; and m.facebook.com, for "feature" phones. "Facebook says having to maintain multiple mobile websites has stifled its ability to innovate and forced the company to build new …

According to Twitter's "about" page, the service has 175 million registered users. However, "What ["registered users"] really means is the number of accounts," notes Business Insider. "So, according to Twitter, 175 million Twitter accounts have been opened during Twitter's history." How many people actually use Twitter? Well, there are currently 119 million Twitter accounts following one or more other accounts, according to a source with full access to Twitter's API. Meanwhile, there were 85 million accounts with one or more followers. "With these figures, and Twitter's claim of 175 million accounts, a little subtraction shows us that there …

The top studios have agreed to rent "premium VOD" movies for $30 a pop. What does that have to do with the Web? Everything and nothing, it appears.  On the news, NBC Bay Area writes: "Now Hollywood is trying to circumvent the Internet but at the same time offer its own video rental service." As GigaOm explains, "The introduction of Home Premiere comes as Hollywood faces sharp declines in box office revenues and theater attendance" -- for which the Web is partially responsible. "By introducing a new VOD rental window 60 days after films have their …