smartphone usage trends

Consumers are definitely using their smartphones at an increasing rate to assist their in-store shopping. However, a new study from Nielsen indicates the shopping functions they're using on their phones vary according to store type.

The highlights:

Andrew Wing Kosner of Forbes wrote an interesting column yesterday. In it, he delves into the mind of mobile designer and developer Josh Clark. More specifically, Kosner presents Clark -- with his recent conference presentation called "Seven Deadly Mobile Myths" -- as an opponent to usability expert Jakob Nielsen.

We've been flogging the "future of retail is omnichannel" message for some time now, but for good reason. It's true.

In case you weren't yet convinced, eMarketer makes a pretty compelling case, in a new infographic published in Adweek.

"Brands must now be able to optimize mobile channels (using mobile sites and mobile apps) in a way that enables consumers to make purchases, track pricing and comparison shop whenever and wherever they wish in order to remain relevant," wrote Direct Marketing News' Juan Martinez (April 1).

Martinez points to the CEA's February 2012 M-Commerce Forecast numbers:

In spite of the increasing number of retailers offering branded mobile apps, more shoppers are consulting retailers' websites when researching purchases than are using the same retailers' mobile apps, according to a new study released by Nielsen today.