The Massachusetts Bay Transit Authority has rolled out a new mobile-optimized site to let consumers stay on top of transportation information.

New figures released by mobile platform firm Usablenet underscore the need for retailers to have mobile-optimized websites.

As consumer adoption of smartphones continues its meteoric rise, organizations are now confronted with the challenge of developing a comprehensive mobile strategy that reaches a new generation of global consumers who are increasingly using the mobile Web as a primary gateway to the Internet.

Catalog and online retailer Oriental Trading Co. recently launched a mobile site in time for the holidays to make it easy for on-the-go shoppers to purchase party supplies and gift items.

Analysts have been predicting holiday sales increases of 3 percent for the 2011 holiday season—and they’re sticking to those forecasts—but there’s no denying that Black Friday started the season off with a lot of swagger.