Google on Friday delivered a special treat to Android users ahead the weekend.

As it turns out, the Internet search giant released an updated version of its Maps application that integrates geo-specific daily deals offers.

“Wherever you are,” the company says on its Lat Long Blog, “Google Maps for Android helps you get around and discover new places.”

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There’s a first time for everything. But this is one “first” no one is happy to see.

As reported by the Wall Street Journal this week, malware is starting to exploit hacked Web sites as part of an alleged scheme to target mobile devices.

The Trojan in question is called “NotCompatible” and is said to be directed at Android smartphones and tablets.

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Google is said to be preparing a new Android app that will look eerily similar to Apple’s Game Center for iOS devices.

Sources close to the plan tell Business Insider that Google is banking on this forthcoming native app to help level the social gaming field between the two mobile operating system giants.

“That’s a key piece of software plumbing necessary to make Google a contender in the fast-growing mobile games market,” the report reads.

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Research In Motion is aiming for a fresh start.

After a major executive shake up earlier this year, the struggling smartphone maker is bringing in new talent to help the company bounce back from the brink.

Bolstered by the groundswell of interest in the BlackBerry 10 platform, RIM today confirmed the installment of a new chief operating officer. The job is going to Kristian Tear, a former executive vice president at Sony Mobile Communications.

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This week, Color – the hugely video-broadcasting app for iOS and Android – confirmed an exciting new partnership with Verizon.

In short, the updated app will dramatically improve the quality and delivery of videos it captures.

“Today,” writes founder Bill Nguyen on the Color Blog, “we’re formally unveiling our relationship with Verizon and a small down payment on the future. With their help, we’ve added audio to our LIVE video exclusively on the Verizon network. We’ve doubled the frame rate on our videos so our friends and family can see more moments more clearly. We did all this in less than two months.”

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Android is growing by leaps and bounds… but its revenue is a different story.

According to coverage provided Friday from Reuters, Google’s Android mobile platform resulted in a net loss for the company in every quarter of 2010.

Google, which doesn’t publicly report financial information about Android, had some of the beans spilled yesterday in court as litigation lingered on between Oracle and Google regarding smartphone technology.

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The popular series of “talk to Chuck” ads now have more fodder for conversation – mobile bill payments.

Rolling out a slate of new on-the-go banking solutions for investors, Charles Schwab today announced the release of Schwab Bank Bill Pay for iPad, iPhone and Android.

When it comes to helping driving mobile payment adoption, the Charles Schwab Corporation is no small player in the financial world. The company has more than 300 offices and 8.6 million client brokerage accounts, 1.52 million corporate retirement plan participants, 801,000 banking accounts, and $1.83 trillion in client assets.

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