Tag: united kingdom mobile commerce

4G could be a boon for mobile commerce

Mobile Commerce UK 4G speeds may make mobile commerce a major success in the UK

Mobile commerce is on the rise in the United Kingdom and the success of retailers focusing more on mobile payments may rely heavily on Internet speeds. Mobile Internet is still in a state of infancy throughout much of the world. High-speed 4G connections are still somewhat rare, despite rampant demand for such a service. While telecommunications companies are putting a great deal of effort behind making 4G more widely available, delays in high-speed mobile Internet access could mean missed opportunities for UK retailers.

Retailers beginning to become more accommodating of mobile commerce

Retailers throughout the United Kingdom are becoming more inclined to support mobile commerce in a variety of ways. As consumers become more reliant on their mobile devices, they are beginning to find their smartphones and tablets useful for shopping and similar activities. Mobile shopping is quickly becoming a very popular trend among many consumers, according to a recent study from eBay Europe. The study suggests that access to 4G speeds could lead to a universal surge in mobile commerce as consumers find services easier to use.

eBay predicts surge in mobile shopping

eBay Europe predicts that the expansion of 4G availability could cause mobile shopping to spike by 113%. High-speed connectivity means that mobile commerce services are easier to use. This also means that mobile payments can be processed more quickly, eliminating the waiting period that could potentially lead to some payments being lost in virtual limbo because of a connectivity issue with a mobile network. Along with  a surge in mobile shopping, eBay Europe predicts that high-speed Internet could lead to more sales.

High-speed Internet could lead the way for higher sales

eBay anticipates that 4G connectivity will help mobile commerce reach more than $2 billion in sales in the coming years. Access to high-speed Internet makes it easier for consumers to find products they are interested in. It also makes it easier for consumers to purchase these products and continue shopping, thereby increasing the amount of money people are willing to spend while shopping online with their smartphones and tablets.

Mobile commerce applications gain more popularity in the UK

Mobile Commerce UK GrowthData shows UK Android users are enchanted by mobile commerce apps

There was a time when mobile games and other entertainment applications were exceedingly popular among Android users. New data from Nielsen, a leading information and analysis firm, shows that this is no longer the case, at least in the United Kingdom. According to Nielsen, mobile commerce and banking applications are now the most popular apps with Android users. Seven of the top 15 major applications in the UK market have to do with mobile commerce in some way, with some of the most used apps coming from Tesco, Amazon, and Quidco.

Consumers show strong interest in shopping from their smart phones and tablets

Mobile commerce has grown to become a very powerful force in the mobile space. Consumers all over the world have been showing interest in using their mobile devices to purchase products of all kinds. Mobile commerce is especially popular in retail, where companies like Tesco have been working to engage mobile consumers for years. According to Nielsen, Tesco’s application saw more than a 145% spike in new users between May and October of 2012. Those using the application spent 45% more time engaged with the retailer during the same period.

Banks and telecoms account for many popular applications

Many of the mobile commerce applications that have become popular with UK consumers come from the country’s banks and telecommunications companies. Banking applications have been included in Nielsen’s data because mobile commerce does not exclusively refer to the practice of purchase a product using a smart phone or tablet. Rather, mobile commerce is any form of commerce conducted through the use of a mobile device, banking and shopping included.

Mobile games win in consumer engagement

Despite mobile commerce applications becoming so popular among Android users, many consumers are still showing strong interest in mobile games. Nielsen’s data shows that mobile games accounted for the most time spent on smart phones and tablets among consumers. While these applications may have been beaten out by mobile commerce in terms of growth, they are still soaking up the majority of a consumer’s time through engagement.