Despite the fact that the majority of these mobile devices are ugly and limited, wearers adore them.

It is no mystery that smartwatches are taking off like wildfire, as they were the focus of all of the top headlines from the Mobile World Congress at the end of February, but what is striking to many is that these geeky, limited devices are becoming just as popular among consumers as they are among manufacturers.

This has caused analysts and tech experts to ask themselves where the true appeal of these gadgets lies.

While some more attractive models are now being released, until very recently, smartwatches looked like something straight from a bad made for T.V. sci-fi movie. Still, that hasn’t seemed to stop manufacturers from pumping them out and it hasn’t halted consumers from considering them the newest must-have accessory. These additional mobile screens are being seen a little bit of everywhere, whether they are from Pebble, Sony, Samsung, SPOT, Fossill, or any number of other players (other than Apple, who hasn’t arrived in this market, yet).

What is the secret to the way that smartwatches have won over the public?

These wearable technology devices did receive the first wave of attention from early tech adopters. That said, many of this demographic instantly fell in love with their new accessories. It gave them the chance to experiment with the latest types of products on the market while taking advantage of a whole new line of features and conveniences.

However, over the last handful of months, the interest in this type of wearable smart technology has suddenly taken off, far beyond that limited niche. This is particularly true among devices that offer fitness tracking features and apps. Suddenly, these mobile devices are no longer being lumped into the same category as the taped glasses and pocket protector cliché. Instead, they are being seen as mainstream and quite fashionable.

This shift in attitude toward smartwatches is expected to be a massive driver for the sale of these devices, which will only be expanded as next generations of the devices are launched based on the features and capabilities that consumers show that they value the most. Of course, the anticipated release of the iWatch before the end of the year will also be worth watching.

Tencent and Alibaba are beginning to compete more aggressively for the favor of mobile consumers throughout China

China has become a battlefield when it comes to mobile commerce competition. Two of the country’s largest companies, Tencent and Alibaba, have a longstanding rivalry with one another when it comes to engaging consumers. Both companies are beginning to focus on the mobile space more heavily as well. While Tencent has held a strong presence in the mobile space for some time, Alibaba is beginning to threaten that position by promoting and supporting mobile commerce throughout China.

Firm predicts the future of the mobile payments market in China

Internet consultancy firm iResearch has released a forecast concerning the mobile commerce market in China. According to the forecast, the market is expected to reach nearly $300 billion by 2017, with more than half of online payments being made from a smartphone or other mobile device. Mobile payments will likely continue growing in popularity as more people gain access to the mobile Internet. The popularity of mobile payments has encouraged companies like Tencent and Alibaba to embrace the mobile commerce sector more aggressively.

Tencent powers ahead with its WeChat application and new services

Tencent recently launched a new service for merchants through its WeChat application. The service allows merchants to accept mobile payments through the application, thereby enabling them to become more engaging for mobile consumers. Alibaba has its own mobile payments platform called Alipay, which has managed to accommodate more online transactions than both eBay and Amazon combined. These applications are poised to compete aggressively with one another, but Chinese consumers have yet to show their favor for one over the other.

Tencent may have what it takes to attract the support of China’s merchants

Tencent is expected to have an edge with merchants that are looking to get involved in the mobile space. WeChat is one of the most popular applications in the world and is quite well known in China. The popularity of this application among consumers may be enough to convince merchants that it is the best platform for their mobile commerce interests.