• by Erik Sass  @eriksass1, December 6, 2010

With new mobile devices like the Apple iPad transforming newspaper readership, the Audit Bureau of Circulations' interactive unit is planning to introduce a new mobile audience auditing service in partnership with Spreed, a mobile media firm. The new ABCi "m.Audit" will cover usage data generated from smart phones, e-readers and mobile browsers to verify the size and frequency of newspapers' growing mobile audience.

A recent ABCi survey of newspaper publishers found that three-quarters are optimizing content for mobile consumption, while 90% believe more people will treat mobile devices as their primary information sources in coming years.

Some 25% said they have developed iPad apps, and 47% said their publications are available on other devices in addition to the iPad.

Reflecting the growing popularity of the iPad, a number of major media companies have unveiled plans for new, iPad-only publications, including Virgin's monthly Project magazine and News Corp.'s The Daily.

Currently, Gartner is forecasting global tablet computer sales of 19.4 million units by the end of 2010, climbing to 55 million in 2011, due largely to brisk sales of the iPad. As of late October, Apple has sold about 4.2 million iPads in the U.S.