Consumers cool on mobile commerce-study:
biz.yahoo.com
November 1, 5:06 pm Eastern Time
Consumers cool on mobile commerce-study
CHICAGO, Nov 1 (Reuters) - The wireless industry touts mobile commerce, or the ability to make purchases from wireless devices, as the next hot industry, but consumers are largely indifferent about it, a survey said.
The survey, which was released by Arthur Andersen on Wednesday, found that 43 percent of respondents were neutral about mobile commerce, 13 percent had a somewhat negative impression and 1 percent of the respondents had a very negative impression.
Arthur Andersen found that consumers were wary of making online purchases wirelessly due to security and reliability concerns, even though many of them believed that such a service would be convenient and save time.
The results were based on responses from 424 online users.
The study also found that handheld computer users are two to five times more likely to use their devices for online applications, such as e-mail, Internet access and online purchases, but less than one in 10 respondents actually owned handheld computers.
More than half of those who do not own handheld digital organisers said they would be more likely to purchase the device if it were integrated with mobile phones, a step that mobile phone and handheld computer makers such as Motorola Inc. (NYSE:MOT - news), Palm Inc. (NasdaqNM:PALM - news) and Handspring Inc. (NasdaqNM:HAND - news) are already taking.
As consumers start accepting mobile commerce as a way to shop, they will be most interested in online purchases of travel reservations, gifts, books and music, the survey found. |
