Tag: android mobile devices

New report highlights trends in the mobile sector

Leading market research firm comScore has released a new report concerning the mobile sector. The report highlights trends within the mobile market and how these trends are affecting large companies, like Apple and Samsung. It also touches upon mobile commerce and the success that retailers are seeing in this sector. The mobile sector has been showing a great deal of activity over the past several years, but this activity has recently begun reaching new heights due to the popularity of mobile shopping and payments.

Android continues to lead with consumers

According to the report, Android remained the most popular mobile platform among consumers, but Apple was the top maker of mobile devices in the U.S. Android accounts for approximately 52% of the U.S. market, with iOS devices accounting for 40%. Blackberry and other platforms represent a significantly smaller market share, which may continue to diminish over time as Android and iOS devices become more advances and less expensive.

Retailers find success in mobile commerce

The report shows that retailers have been seeing a great deal of success in their mobile commerce endeavors. Retailers that have their own dedicated shopping applications performed much better than those without such applications, according to the report. The reason behind this could be that these applications make it easier for consumers to shop from their mobile devices. The report shows that approximately one third of consumers in the U.S. are visiting retail sites from their mobile devices.

Apple and other dominate mobile sales

Amazon, eBay, and Apple currently reign supreme when it comes to mobile sales. Notably, Apple generates a significant level of revenue through its App Store, which has proven lucrative for developers as well as Apple. According to comScore, retailers will have to become more conscious of the mobile sector as mobile commerce grows in popularity. Those that cannot provide consumers with an engaging mobile experience may lose out on a significant opportunity.

NFC technology not so easily exploited when it is turned off

NFC technology is becoming a more common feature in mobile devices. The technology is used often in mobile commerce and advertising as a way to facilitate convenient services and reach out to consumers. For these purposes, NFC technology has proven itself quite effective. The technology is, however, exposed to the risk of exploitation from hackers. It is also a major drain on a smart phone’s battery, especially if it is used for mobile commerce and social networking.

Turning off NFC could save battery power

For those with NFC-enabled Android mobile devices, turning off NFC technology is fairly simple. Those that do not conduct mobile payments or engage in data exchange regularly can actually see some major benefits from turning off the NFC capabilities of their mobile device when they do not plan to use them. Turning off the NFC technology embedded in the phone can help reduce the strain on the mobile device’s batter, allowing it to remain charged for a significantly longer period of time. Turning of NFC connectivity can actually make a mobile device much safer as well.

Security boost through turning off NFC

NFC technology is quickly becoming notorious for the lackluster security features that are native to it. The technology is completely benign in the sense that it does not have robust security features or any glaring security faults that could put a user’s information at risk. The applications and services that rely on NFC technology, however, do have some serious security shortfalls that do put this information at risk. When consumers do not plan to make use of these applications and services, turning off the NFC capabilities of their mobile device may help mitigate the risks associated with mobile commerce and other NFC-based services.

Battery mileage varies from device to device, but security still a serious issue

The impact NFC technology has on the life of a battery is highly dependent on the mobile device in which the technology is installed. Personal tests are advised for those that want to get a better understanding of what the technology will do to the battery of their own device. Because NFC technology works at very short range, the security implications can often be overblown. Nonetheless, the security issues inherent with many NFC services and applications are still cause for concern and consumer should take steps to protect themselves.