10 Percent of campaign donations made via cell phone

• By Stephanie Mlot

Technology has been a major tool in this year's presidential campaign via the Web, smartphone apps, blogs, and even text message-based donations.

In fact, about 10 percent of 2012 presidential campaign donations were made via text or mobile apps, according to new data from the Pew Internet & American Life Project.

The campaigns have only been allowed to accept mobile donations since June, when the Federal Election Commission approved the process. But because very few state or congressional campaigns are currently taking advantage of the technology, Pew limited its data to the presidential races.

Two Pew surveys conducted in September showed that 13 percent of adults have made a donation to one of the candidates. Of that, 67 percent donated in person, over the phone, or via the mail. About 50 percent donated online, and 10 percent donated by sending a text message or using a cell phone app.