In the last 12 months, Amazon generated $1 billion in sales through mobile. That comes out to
How is this being done? One word: convenience.
As more smartphones and mobile devices get into the hands of shoppers, apps such as Amazon's can take advantage of putting into hands of users large catalogs of products. Users don't have to ever wait until they get home to conduct price comparisons, and purchases.
Just over this past Christmas holidays, I was at Target shopping for my nephews. Bumblebee, check. Latest evolution of Elmo, cheaper on Amazon, so check. Puzzles and books, free shipping and no taxes, definitely, check. I think I walked out of Target with some Christmas lights and decorations. I also saved some DVDs to Amazon for purchase later.
I can imagine an acceleration of mobile purchases in the coming years. Honestly, this really goes without saying. What will drive this acceleration is more than simply more folks turning to mobile computing.
Tablet adoption is taking off and no need to mention which particular device is driving this market. Amazon is very excited as increased adoption of tablets with bigger screens to drive sales.
In Amazon's report that was not mentioned is social networks. I think this will also play a big part in online sales. Beyond Facebook, location-based services like Booyah and Foursquare can be potential drivers as well. Just recently, Booyah has added another particular type of check-in: product check-in. I think that speaks wholly for itself. Use your imagination. If you're a retailer or etailer, you can't wait until more mobile services and products provide added convenience and social components to the mobile experience.
Also, ask eBay. It hopes to generate $1.5 billion in sales through mobile avenues. Wanna bet they're going to beat that?
More at Amazon,
Showing posts with label ebay. Show all posts
Showing posts with label ebay. Show all posts
Sunday, July 25, 2010
Monday, May 11, 2009
Mobile Payment
All that has happened in the smartphone market in the last couple of years, there has yet to be anything new as far as mobile payment goes.
For the rest of 2009 and probably 2010, we'll continue to see more changes in the mobile hardware segment and some changes in mobile access due to competitive pressure.
However, my dream of living my wallet at home will have to way a little longer I'm afraid. One of the biggest news in the last week was Paypal's entry into the Android app market. However, when we look back on this, it'll be a small blip, hardly noticeable, in the grand scheme of mobile trade.
Yes, mobile trade. Not simply mobile payment. I think the mobile market should evolve sufficiently enough where even trading systems from equities, bonds, and physical goods can be exchanged mobilely. That's still a way off but it's on the way.
For now, I'm satisfied with logging into my bank accounts on my mobile devices to pay my utilities. Even that was not possible from most banks a year ago.
Note: In science fiction movies, literatures, and even games now, "credits" of various denominations are used instead of currencies. We're generations off still. Old habits die hard and even if the Chinese are trying to supplement the US dollar as the global reserve currently, no one has yet to come up with a credible substitute. When that day comes, mobile payment and trade will explode onto the scene.
Another Note: Coupons. Not everyone accepts coupons displayed on scenes of smartphones. A few months ago, I received Souplantation coupon on my iPhone. I printed out a copy but I decided to test and see if the cashier would be willing to accept the digital copy. No go. I'll probably go again when I get another coupon. I'll try it with a different cashier and see if he or she will accept a digital imprint.
For the rest of 2009 and probably 2010, we'll continue to see more changes in the mobile hardware segment and some changes in mobile access due to competitive pressure.
However, my dream of living my wallet at home will have to way a little longer I'm afraid. One of the biggest news in the last week was Paypal's entry into the Android app market. However, when we look back on this, it'll be a small blip, hardly noticeable, in the grand scheme of mobile trade.
Yes, mobile trade. Not simply mobile payment. I think the mobile market should evolve sufficiently enough where even trading systems from equities, bonds, and physical goods can be exchanged mobilely. That's still a way off but it's on the way.
For now, I'm satisfied with logging into my bank accounts on my mobile devices to pay my utilities. Even that was not possible from most banks a year ago.
Note: In science fiction movies, literatures, and even games now, "credits" of various denominations are used instead of currencies. We're generations off still. Old habits die hard and even if the Chinese are trying to supplement the US dollar as the global reserve currently, no one has yet to come up with a credible substitute. When that day comes, mobile payment and trade will explode onto the scene.
Another Note: Coupons. Not everyone accepts coupons displayed on scenes of smartphones. A few months ago, I received Souplantation coupon on my iPhone. I printed out a copy but I decided to test and see if the cashier would be willing to accept the digital copy. No go. I'll probably go again when I get another coupon. I'll try it with a different cashier and see if he or she will accept a digital imprint.
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