Mobile Commerce Sales Explode in United States: Will Top $3.4 Billion in 2010


NEW YORK - December 17, 2010

The short-term growth of mobile online shopping has been nothing short of phenomenal. In the United States, purchases attributed to mobile online shopping – excluding travel – grew from $396.3 million in 2008 to an impressive $1.4 billion in 2009. ABI Research believes that in 2010, mobile online shopping excluding travel in the US had more than doubled again, to total more than $3.4 billion by year’s end. Travel-related purchases (airline tickets, hotels, etc.) will add another $1.5 billion.

Senior analyst Mark Beccue comments, “We are entering a highly innovative and creative period for retail. Mobile online shopping growth in the US has been fueled this year by the massive migration of consumers to smartphones, the explosion of highly innovative use-cases deployed by retailers and third-party players, and a significant shift in consumer behavior as more consumers choose mobile shopping over traditional online shopping.”
 
The US, Japan, and Beyond
 
In September 2010, ABI Research developed an analysis of the current mobile commerce merchants in the US. For 2010, US mobile commerce sales are divided as follows:
 
Travel: 31%
Computers/Electronics: 20%
Apparel: 13%
Books/Music/DVDs: 9%
Office Supplies: 7%
Housewares/Home Furnishings: 6%
Entertainment Tickets: 3%
All Other: 12%
 
In Japan, where mobile online shopping has been commonplace for several years, mobile is responsible for nearly 17% of all e-commerce sales. But the success of mobile online shopping will not be confined to the United States and Japan. In 2015, ABI Research believes, mobile online shopping will be responsible for $163 billion in sales globally, 12% of global e-commerce turnover.
 
Beyond Direct Sales
 
Mobile marketing practice director Neil Strother adds, “Beyond direct sales generated via mobile, innovative retailers will use mobile online shopping to introduce a broad- range of mobile marketing campaigns and CRM programs.”
 
ABI Research’s new “Mobile Commerce” study forecasts sales generated by mobile by region, plus verticals in the US market such as apparel, consumer electronics, books/DVDs, travel and entertainment tickets. The report also presents details of evolving consumer behavior and use-cases for mobile commerce.
 
It forms part of the firm’s Mobile Commerce & Banking Research Service which also includes other Research Reports, Research Briefs, Market Data, ABI Insights, ABI Vendor Matrices, and analyst inquiry support.
 
ABI Research provides in-depth analysis and quantitative forecasting of trends in global connectivity and other emerging technologies. From offices in North America, Europe and Asia, ABI Research’s worldwide team of experts advises thousands of decision makers through 30+ research and advisory services. Est. 1990. For more information visit www.abiresearch.com, or call +1.516.624.2500.​