This past weekend I was at a major bookstore chain and looking for a particular book.  Rather than ask the clerk, I went to my smartphone and went online to find the book title, author, and competing price.  I know I’m not alone in this effort and more and more individuals (and businesses) will use the power of mobility to tilt the scale in their favor.

Armed with a mobile device – smartphone or tablet – folks will use them to research, compare, and ultimately purchase.  A recent PayPal survey found that 46% of respondents plan to use a mobile device this holiday season to make a purchase.   An astounding 27% of consumers in an e-tailing group survey commissioned by Oracle, use a tablet device daily or several times a week to research products and services.

Beyond researching or making purchases, 35% of consumers use their smartphone to receive offers and coupons, and 32% access coupons and redeem them at their local retail store.  And with GPS capabilities in smartphones and tablet (and with user’s approval), retailers will start pushing coupons and offers directly to phone users based on their proximity to their store (or their competitors).

Security is one concern that both shoppers, companies and phone manufacturers will have to deal with in the coming years.  In that same Oracle-sponsored e-tailing group consumer survey, 32% of consumers were concerned about giving their credit card information via a smartphone.

You can gain further insight into the mind of today’s consumer by reading the e-tailing group white paper, titled “the connected consumer”.

This past weekend I was at a major bookstore chain and looking for a particular book.  Rather than ask the clerk, I went to my smartphone and went online to find the book title, author, and competing price.  I know I’m not alone in this effort and more and more individuals (and businesses) will use the power of mobility to tilt the scale in their favor.

Armed with a mobile device – smartphone or tablet – folks will use them to research, compare, and ultimately purchase.  A recent PayPal survey found that 46% of respondents plan to use a mobile device this holiday season to make a purchase.   An astounding 27% of consumers in an e-tailing group survey commissioned by Oracle, use a tablet device daily or several times a week to research products and services.

Beyond researching or making purchases, 35% of consumers use their smartphone to receive offers and coupons, and 32% access coupons and redeem them at their local retail store.  And with GPS capabilities in smartphones and tablet (and with user’s approval), retailers will start pushing coupons and offers directly to phone users based on their proximity to their store (or their competitors).

Security is one concern that both shoppers, companies and phone manufacturers will have to deal with in the coming years.  In that same Oracle-sponsored e-tailing group consumer survey, 32% of consumers were concerned about giving their credit card information via a smartphone.

You can gain further insight into the mind of today’s consumer by reading the e-tailing group white paper, titled “the connected consumer”.