Tag: hong kong

Challenges keep mobile commerce form going mainstream

| February 14, 2013

mobile commerce challengesWidespread adoption of mobile commerce has yet to be seen

Commerce is changing all over the world, largely due to the advent of mobile technology. Smart phones and tablets had once been considered simple tools to make some aspects of life more convenient for consumers. These technologies have come to inhabit a very important role in society, providing millions of people all over the world with entertainment, organization, access to information, and even a new way to pay for products. Mobile commerce has risen from the importance that mobile technology has established in the lives of consumers, but it has yet to become mainstream.

Consumers show interest in mobile payments, but adoption is still low

Mobile commerce is a relatively new trend in the mobile world. It refers to a consumer making purchases using a mobile device or engaging in other financial services, such as banking. The concept is simple enough and consumers all over the world have shown strong interest in mobile commerce. Much of this enthusiasm has yet to become tangible support, however, as many consumers show that they are interested but unwilling to participate in mobile commerce. There are several factors that contribute to this apparent reluctance.

Poor experiences may dissuade consumers from using mobile commerce services

ForeSee, a marketing analytics firm, suggests that some of the lack of support for mobile commerce being shown by consumers is due to poor experiences with e-commerce platforms. Because most e-commerce platforms were designed before mobile technology became such a widespread phenomenon, they are not optimized to be used on a mobile device. This leads to significant problems when these platforms are accessed by smart phones and tablets, creating a poor experience for consumers. Even platforms that are optimized for mobile viewing suffer from speed problems, making mobile payments very slow and unintuitive for consumers.

Singapore and Hong Kong show most growth in mobile commerce

Because of the problems consumers have been experiencing, mobile commerce has found only moderate success in many parts of the world. The only markets that mobile commerce has seen significant success in are in Asia. According to a report from Neilson, which was commissioned by PayPal, Singapore and Hong Kong have seen the most growth in mobile commerce than any other market in the world. This is partly due to the strong focus on mobile technology that businesses in these markets have, as well as the high number of mobile consumers that live in both regions.

Apple losing ground in prominent markets

| January 29, 2013

Apple losing ground in AsiaConsumer fatigue threatens Apple in Asia

The iPhone continues to be a rampaging success in the U.S. and European markets, but fatigue may be setting in for those in the Asian market. Some of Asia’s most influential cities are beginning to show signs of iPhone fatigue, especially as a new generation of consumers, who have grown up steeped in technology, begin to show less interest in the popular mobile device. Consumers in both Singapore and Hong Kong are beginning to look for alternatives to Apple, which may have a dramatic impact on the company’s future.

Apple continues focus on mobile world

Apple has seen remarkable success in its mobile ventures and has adopted a very strict focus on the mobile world in general. The introduction of the iPhone solidified the company’s hold on the mobile space. As the years have gone by, the company has introduced several new iterations of the iPhone, each featuring new technology and services that Apple believed to be ideal for consumers. The company has also entered into the tablet market with the iPad, a venture that has also proven to be rampantly successful.

Market share dropping quickly in Singapore

While Apple has enjoyed the worldwide success of its various mobile products, its grasp on the Asian market is beginning to loosen. This is due to a number of factors, including iPhone fatigue, and the desire that many consumers are showing for other brands, particularly those from Samsung. According to StatCounter, a traffic measuring service that collects data from more than 3 million websites, Apple’s share of mobile devices in Singapore dropped significantly in 2012. StatCounter shows that in this month alone, Apple’s market share dropped by 50%.

Consumers in Hong Kong and elsewhere show favor for Android

Similar results are being seen in Hong Kong. Approximately 30% of all mobile devices therein come from Apple. In both markets, the Android platform is picking up much of the slack. This may be due to the fact that some of the latest Android devices include NFC technology, which allows for a wide range of new services, including mobile commerce, that are absent from t he iOS platform.