Tag: mobile commerce

Middle East becoming more interested in mobile payments

Demands for mobile payments are rising in the Middle East. The Middle East is emerging as one of the most favorable markets for mobile commerce, especially when it comes to the United Arab Emirates  and the affluent population of Dubai. Smartphones and tablets are becoming more common throughout the Middle East, exposing consumers to new ways to engage in the world around them. Mobile payments have begun establishing a strong foothold among a new generation of consumers with access to mobile devices.

Universal commerce may be coming in the future

First Data, a leading payment processing company, has coined the term “universal commerce.” This suggests that everyone will be able to participate in a new era of commerce through a singular platform that will be recognized by all retailers and businesses around the world. Such a platform does not have to come from a single company and does not have to be associated with one particular application. Instead, this platform is meant to provide a framework wherein consumers interested in mobile payments can use their smartphones and tablets to purchase products, or use more traditional forms of currency.

First Data finds that Middle East is enthusiastic about mobile payments

According to First Data, consumers in the Middle East are eager for a new way to participate in commerce and that the mobile space may offer the best solution. Research from a study conducted in 2011 by First Data shows that consumers throughout the Middle East are enthusiastic when it comes to online retail, showing strong signs of their support of mobile commerce. The research found that Middle Eastern consumers have a higher chance of participating in mobile payments than any other group in the world.

Mobile commerce finds strong support in Dubai

Mobile commerce has been growing in the Middle East, backed strongly by companies and organizations based in Dubai. The city boasts of one of the most financially active populations in the world, which has given many consumers in Dubai opportunity to engage in mobile commerce before the rest of the region. Those that have participated in the several mobile payments projects that have taken root in the city have praised the convenience and simplicity of mobile commerce.

According to a recent study performed in the Indian market, there are hot products sold over mobile.

eBay India has released the results of their summertime m-commerce survey and has discovered that the channel will be exploding with shoppers over the hottest months of the year, and they know exactly what they want to buy.

The scorching heat appears to be adding some warmth to the smartphone shopping marketplace.

Within the m-commerce survey, eBay discovered that more than fifty percent of the population intends to make purchases over their smartphones or tablets, typically from the comfort of their own homes. They are choosing this alternative over having to leave their homes to deal with the sweltering heat this summer in order to head to the local mall.

Fifty nine percent of the m-commerce participants said they wanted to shop over smartphones and tablets.

The reason cited for this preference toward staying in and shopping over m-commerce instead of going in person to the mall was that they would be able to stay out of the heat and avoid the overcrowding in the market areas.

The survey also identified the top products that are expected to be purchased over the m-commerce channel. The research respondents said that they would be most likely to buy cotton apparel, shorts, t-shirts, caps, and sunglasses. Among the colors that are most likely to be purchased are green, blue, white, cream, and black.

According to the eBay India country manager, Muralikrishnan B., the adoption of m-commerce “has increased significantly in the country due to multiple factors such as enhanced 3G penetration and availability of affordable smartphones.” He added that this activity has become one of the preferred option for many Indians, particularly among those in the smaller cities.

This has become increasingly obvious as a recent m-commerce study that the company also performed has shown that 49 percent of the users of the online marketplace are from non-metropolitan cities. He added that because eBay is one of the pioneers into this channel within the country, they have considered it to be truly promising to watch the shift toward mobile in India.