Mobile payments on the increase
New research reveals that the rise in smartphone apps and mobile internet are propelling the use of mobile payments.
Juniper Research forecasts that nearly half of all mobile phone users worldwide will pay by mobile for digital and physical goods by 2014.
Segments such as ticketing and payments for physical goods are being spurred by the huge take-up of apps and the availability of multi-lingual versions of platforms such as eBay, said Juniper.
Just under six billion mobile apps will be downloaded in 2010, up from an estimated 2.4 billion in 2009, according to ABI Research.
In December, Screen Digest forecast that revenues from apps will double in the next four years to reach €100 billion a year by the end of 2013.
Howard Wilcox, author of the Juniper Research report, said: “Since our last report a recent trend we’re seeing is the launch of mobile storefronts and malls, as well as new smartphone apps and mobile payments services from companies such as eBay, Amazon and Digby.
“Based on the take-up figures we’ve seen, users appreciate the convenience.”