But an optimist would point out that as the number of surfers doubled during the past three years, growth in Net use among less-affluent demographic segments has kept up with that of the upper crust.

CNN: Web surfers aren't just young techie males anymore

The Pacific coast, from Santa Barbara south to San Diego, and in particular the huge swells of Orange Country, draw devoted surfers and locals who value a way of life that includes spectacular dawn point breaks and offshore winds.

BBC: Living in: Surfing regions

Vicinity is planning to use its database of more than 4m physical businesses, which already helps web surfers find the nearest Levi's store or FedEx drop-off point, to allow retailers to transmit discount coupons to the cellphone of a consumer who happens to walk by and lure her into the store.

ECONOMIST: America rides the wireless wave