JiWire just released its Mobile Audience Insights Report for Q1, and found that Android, tablets and location-based deals are among the top trends in this market. According to the WiFi marketing company, 79 percent of the on-the-go audience is comfortable making purchases on their mobile devices. Making small purchases is widespread, while 50 percent of user respondents are confident spending more than $100 on a purchase from their device, and 20 percent are even comfortable with purchases over $500.

Further, it seems mobile shopping drives in-store purchasing:

“As part of the mobile shopping experience, a majority of consumers are also spending time researching future purchases on mobile phones and other devices. Seventy-one percent researched future purchases on their mobile device and then made a purchase either online or within a store at a later date.”

Location-based deals represent a huge presence in mobile shopping, with JiWire’s survey indicating that 72 percent of the mobile audience purchases local deals, and 44 percent do so at

least once a month. Those aged 25 to 44 are most likely to purchase a local deal, and 62 percent of respondents are sharing local deals with friends – including more than half of those above the age of 45.

The driver behind the mobile phenomenon, and JiWire’s business, is provided by increasingly fast and agile WiFi networks. This field is evolving rapidly, and Verizon and Google have already began deploying 100GB/sec networks. T-Mobile is also constantly developing its presence in the field, and recently announced it will now offer users free calls over WiFi for devices supporting UMA.

Going back to JiWire, the company which makes its living off the on-the-go web, raised $20 million in funding. The third round of financing was led by Trident Capital, and existing investors Comcast Interactive Capital, Draper Fisher Jurvetson, Norwest Venture Partners and Panorama Capital also participated.