Mobile Is Changing The Way People Shop

Jan. 26, 2010 - PRLog -- Only 70% of homes in Ireland have a computer.
The OECD the Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development, in relation to Broadband penetration,  the subscribers per 100 inhabitants to June 2009 has Ireland and the UK at less than 30%

EVERYBODY HAS A MOBILE PHONE

Some interesting points about mobile:

Gartner Predictions

Gartner, Inc. is the world's leading information technology research and advisory company.
They are  the indispensable partner to 60,000 clients in 10,000 distinct organizations.

A new research report from Gartner predicts that by 2013, that mobile phones will have overtaken PC's as the most common way to access the internet. At that point, Gartner predicts a global installed base of 1.82 billion phones able to connect to the internet,

The key implication is that companies need to insure that their websites, portals, and web applications adequately support mobile devices.

The mobile devices are actually composed of two different types: smartphones and “enhanced phones” (have media or application capabilities but no local OS). The smartphones represent 1.32 billion units, and internet capable enhance phones make up about 500 million units.

Gartner further predicts that in 2013 the majority of website accesses will be via mobile devices.
A couple of the key implications cited by Gartner include:

Companies need to be sure that their websites, portals, and web applications fully support mobile devices.
In general, mobile users are prepared to make few ‘clicks’ than PC users before arriving to their desired content. Companies need to keep this consumer behavior in mind as they further develop internet presence.
Organizations with consumer facing web sites are more at risk of reduced customer interaction if mobile is not supported than business-to-business applications. This means that governments and educational institutions need to keep this in mind, as do online retailers, banks, and financial service providers.
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“Mobile is changing the way people shop this holiday season,” said Lorrie Norrington, president of eBay marketplaces. eBay buyers and sellers have rapidly embraced mobile commerce this year, and this holiday season has been a mobile commerce tipping point. Shopping will never be the same again.”


Nearly two-fifths of smartphone owners reported having bought something non-mobile over their mobile phone in the past six months, though many still report frustration with mobile site functionality Source: www.compete.com

Where do you stand in all this?
Have you checked how your website looks on mobile?
Are you sending texting offers to your customers?
Technology has moved on, 450 characters can now be sent to mobiles
Isn't it time to embrace mobile?

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iWord Limited ( www.iword.ie )is a leading provider of Mobile Messaging Solutions. iWord delivers SMS messages of up to 450 characters onto mobile devices in 180 countries around the World. iWord adapts websites so they can be viewed on any device and can integrate booking and payment facilities also. iWord also creates iPhone Apps. iWord can provide keywords to short code numbers for advertising purposes in Ireland and the UK (text BROTHER to 51444 in Ireland or 66033 in the UK standard rate text)