Real-time Web keeps social networkers connected - USATODAY.com

SAN FRANCISCO — Jessica Stryczek reaches for her iPhone every morning, even before she gets out of bed. It is her lifeline to the world — an uber alarm clock/CD player/e-mail device/game player/newspaper/shopping guide/banking assistant/conduit to Facebook and Twitter. "Without it, I wouldn't survive," says Stryczek, a 26-year-old teacher in Fremont, Calif.

The same goes for Sara Wilson, who starts and ends each day on her iPhones. Yes, she has two: one as an alarm clock, the other for "everything else" — e-mail, texts, Facebook updates, Twitter "tweets," checking her bank balance...