Use of Mobile Devices for Internet Access is building slowly -but the potential is enormous

Mobile internet devices (MIDs) are outselling computers, internet marketing consultants may wish to note.

According to Information Week data cited on Practical Ecommerce, a total of 450 million MIDs were purchased around the world last year.

In contrast, Gartner figures reveal that the smaller number of 306 million computers were bought over the 12-month period.

Practical Ecommerce also noted that the processes by which consumers can buy products on mobile devices is becoming easier as third-party services grow more widespread.

"For example, mobile payment providers have developed solutions to avoid entering a full credit card number (and expiration date) to complete a mobile-originated purchase," it pointed out.

It added that the question of when, if ever, people migrate to purchasing products from mobile devices is an interesting one and is something that may be of particular relevance to internet consultants.

Recently, Practical Ecommerce indicated that analysts anticipate that US ecommerce merchants will make between $120 billion (£76.15 billion) and $200 billion in sales over the course of 2010.

Meanwhile, mobile commerce is expected to generate only a small fraction of this total, although it has the potential to expand as mobile usage becomes mainstream.

Source: Practical Ecommerce