Author: Stephen

Mobile commerce is gaining momentum

| February 20, 2015

IBM report shows that mobile traffic and shopping is on the rise in the US

Mobile now accounts for nearly half of all online retail traffic in the United States, according to the latest IBM Digital Analytics Benchmark. The report highlights the growing importance of the mobile space and how it is having a major impact on commerce in the digital world. The report makes note of the mobile commerce activity on Valentine’s Day, showcasing an increase in mobile shopping over what was recorded on the same day in the previous year.

Mobile traffic accounts for nearly half of all online retail traffic this year

According to the report, online shopping, as a whole, grew by 10% on Valentine’s Day. This may be due to numerous factors, including cold weather and powerful storms in some parts of the country. The report shows that mobile traffic accounted for 46.5% of all online traffic, highlighting the fact that many consumers are now using their smartphones and tablets to shop online. Higher traffic does not represent more sales, however.

Mobile commerce still represents a small portion of digital sales when compared to PC

Mobile Commerce - Mobile ShoppingThe report shows that mobile commerce represented 23% of all online sales, which is a 35% increase over mobile commerce sales last year. Mobile still represents a relatively small portion of online retail sales, however, as sales made from PCs remain the most significant force in online retail. The report shows that tablet users typically spent more than their smartphone counterparts. Tablet users spend an average of $98.56 per order, whereas smartphone users spent an average of $92.37 per order.

Mobile commerce continues to thrive because of its convenient nature

While PC still dominates the online retail space, mobile commerce is beginning to become a more prominent force. Many consumers are opting to shop for and purchase products from their mobile devices because of how convenient such a practice is. In the coming years, it is likely to become more common for consumers to participate in mobile commerce, especially during the holidays, when they want to avoid crowds and enjoy a convenient shopping experience.

Mobile payments service Apple Pay receives support from the US government

| February 18, 2015

Federal government shows strong support for Apple Pay

Apple Pay has gotten a major boost from the U.S. federal government. Apple has announced that its new mobile payments platform has received approval to accept payments for the federal government. The platform will begin accepting these payments in fall. The platform will be able to accept payments for those visiting federal locations, such as national parks, and will also be used for payment cards issued by the federal government.

Apple Pay’s latest victory may provide the service with the momentum it needs to break into new markets

The support from the federal government is a major victory for Apple Pay, which has come to establish a dominating presence in the mobile payments field. The platform is nearly four months old, having launched late last year, and has already managed to capture a significant portion of the mobile payments market. With the backing of the federal government, the platform is expected to continue gaining momentum, which will be needed to break into the payment markets of other countries.

Mobile payments continue to thrive in the United States

Mobile Payments - AppleMobile payments has become quite popular among consumers in the United States. Many see paying with Apple Pay, and similar services, as a more convenient form of commerce. This is because many of these people already use their smartphones and other devices for many things in their daily lives. Mobile payment services have managed to gain strong support from consumers because of their convenient nature.

Biometric technology helps keep Apple Pay secure

Apple Pay is not only convenient for consumers, of course, as it is also quite secure. The service makes use of biometric technology, which uses biological information, such as a finger print, to protect the financial information of its users. Such technology is becoming more important in the mobile payments field, as the market has become a prime target for malicious groups that would exploit the financial information of consumers. The security measures that Apple has incorporated into its payment platform has received praise from the U.S. government.