Mobile transactions worth $600bn worldwide by 2013

You wait ages for a story involving NFC, then three of them come along within a couple of days. Juniper Research says mobile money transfers and purchases of digital and physical goods will generate transactions worth over $600bn by 2013; that's an increase of almost ten times today's levels. Although today's mobile market is dominated by digital goods purchases such as ringtones, music, games and infotainment, the company's report says there are three high potential markets that offer major new opportunities for the future: contactless NFC, mobile money transfer and physical goods purchases via mobile devices. Juniper Research has published reports on mobile transactions and mobile shopping earlier this year. [Source: MarketWire.com]

Over 2 billion mobile shoppers by 2013

More than 2 billion mobile phone users will have bought digital goods with their phones by 2013, according to analysts at Juniper Research. 2.1 billion people worldwide will have paid by mobile for something downloaded to their phone in the next five years, covering anything from ringtones to tickets. Users are expected to make at least two payment transactions per month for digital goods by 2013, with Western Europe, the Far East and China accounting for over 50% of the total digital goods transaction market. Typical transaction sizes will be between $3 and $5. [Press release]

Mobile users want more services... but don't know what they've got

Mobile service developer BuzzCity has published the results of a survey that shows mobile customers are eager to access new services but aren't aware that particular services exist. For example, 51% of respondents said they would use their mobile phones for financial services if such services were available in their country. [Press release]

79% of UK users don't want mobile banking or shopping

A new study by Unisys says most consumers aren't ready to use their mobile phone for shopping and banking. 71% of all consumers surveyed in 14 countries (and 79% in the UK) will not consider using a mobile device to bank or shop online. Just 9% currently use their mobiles for transactions that involve credit card payments, money transfers or deposits. [Source: 160characters.org]

More customers using mobile shopping and mobile banking

A study from Harris Interactive says that mobile phone users are increasingly comfortable making banking and purchase transactions while on-the-go. 16% of mobile phone customers in the USA already use mobile banking services, with over half of these people using the services at least once a week. When it comes to shopping, about 25% of people with mobile access to the internet use their devices to buy goods and services online via a credit card. The biggest concern was security, with 66% being apprehensive about sending financial information online.