A recent report from MEF has shown that uptake is driving a broad range of activities over this channel.
The Global Consumer Insights Series on Mobile Money has now been released by the MEF, and it has revealed its belief that mobile payments are among the primary drivers in m-commerce as well as the consumption of a broad range of other types of content over that channel.
The report was based on an analysis of data from 13 different countries.
This included the answers to survey questions from approximately 10,000 respondents. This data pointed out a number of global and regional trends in the uptake of mobile payments and the ways in which this adoption was stimulating growth across other areas in this channel. The report showed that last year, 15 percent of users of mobile media had made some kind of digital purchase over a smartphone or tablet.
Wallets were the most popular form of mobile payments that were used by the respondents.
The largest group of those that had used these digital transactions (representing 7 percent of the total number of respondents) had used mobile wallets, particularly those that used NFC technology to verify and complete the transaction.
The research from this report was conducted along with On Device Research. It has underscored the importance of users of smartphone based money to the overall m-commerce marketplace. They pointed out that the individuals who are already using digital transactions over smartphones and tablets are 26 percent more likely to make a purchase over their mobile devices.
Worldwide, a tremendous 91 percent of those digital money users also made some kind of purchase over their gadgets in 2013. Comparatively, among all mobile consumers, 65 percent did the same.
Users of mobile payments are also the ones who spend the largest amounts on individual purchases. In fact, they have a 10 percent lower likelihood of making a purchase of a low value. Moreover, their purchases are 14 percent more likely to be within the mid-value range. That said, they are not only more likely to make more purchases, but they also take part in a broader range of activities over that channel, such as scanning QR codes (12 percent more likely), make a charitable donation (11 percent more likely), or use location based services (10 percent more likely).
Company has plans to continue adapting to changes in the mobile world
T-Mobile has offered mobile devices to U.S. consumers for several years. The company has competed with others in the telecommunications sector by providing nearly identical services that consumers have either fund to be of little value or too expensive for their taste. As the mobile landscape has changed, however, T-Mobile has been positioning itself to play a larger role in the lives of its customers, both current and future. The company has done away with the service contracts that are common among its competitors while also offering to pay the termination fee associated with these contracts for anyone wishing to find a new mobile service provider. Now, the company is looking to establish a stronger presence in the mobile commerce field.
T-Mobile seeks to expand beyond Isis
T-Mobile has already entered into the mobile commerce space through Isis. Along with AT&T and Verizon Wireless, T-Mobile has invested heavily in the Isis platform, which has managed to acquire the support of most of the country’s major financial organizations as well as consumers. While Isis boasts of a great deal of promise, T-Mobile has plans that extend beyond that platform. The company has recently unveiled its Mobile Money service, which seeks to provide consumers with a new way to manage their finances.
Mobile Money service is available for free to T-Mobile customers
The Mobile Money service combines the use of a mobile application with a branded, prepaid Visa card. The service has no fees associated with it and provides consumers with a way to pay for products using their mobile device or a branded card. The service also allows consumers to add money to their prepaid Visa card by taking a picture of a check. The card itself can be used to withdraw funds from more than 42,000 ATMs located throughout the country. All of the service’s features have no fees and there is no minimum balance requirements associated with the branded Visa card.
Mobile commerce begins to play a bigger role in the lives of consumers
T-Mobile has plans to establish itself as a leader in the mobile field, and this involves establishing a stronger presence when it comes to commerce. In the past, the mobile space was primarily concerned with communication. As technology has advanced, however, consumers have begun using their mobile devices for shopping and managing their finances. T-Mobile is keen to adapt with the changes occurring in the mobile sector so that it can remain relevant to consumers.
