Have you ever used your smartphone to check prices before making a purchase? Its quick and easy and ensures you are getting the best price. Because of this ‘quick check’ mCommerce is becoming big news.

While checking prices it is easy simply complete the purchase on your phone. In the Christmas shopping rush you might even complete the process before you get served. Its part of the ‘try in store - buy online’ culture that is shifting sales from the high street to the internet. And you don’t even have to carry your bags home!

A shift in consumer behaviour is happening, Not only are we more likely to find out what other retailers are charging online and instore using our smartphones and tablets before we go shopping, we are also very likely to use our smartphones and other mobile devices while we are actually in store to check prices of competitor retailers?

Usablenet, the company who power so many US retail sites, states that mobile mobile traffic up 60% with iOS devices (iPhone, iPad etc.) being used by over half of mobile surfers. Statistics confirmed by AsOne’s eMail marketing statistics which also show over 50% of emails sent through our eShot system are opened on Apple devices with a tiny 5% opened on android and other smartphones. Apple users not only use their devices more smartly but are also more likely to purchase making iOS users a vital sector to target for digital marketing.

Shoppers also use their mobiles to read reviews on the products they might buy to help with the decision making process. Shoppers can now be directed to easy purchasing options while in the store of a competitor using GEO location, whats more, the shopper can be directed to other stores on the high street and tempted out of the shop they are in using the same location aware services.

Mobile promotions are an untapped market for many retailers and could be used to encourage more real world footfall. Its not just the ‘daily deal’ sites where you have to tempt in large number with massive discounts. Using services such as Facebook and Foursquare, AsOne can offer simple deals that can be the tipping point for mobile users to take a few more steps to your store when they are out shopping.

Shops should embrues the mobile technology and remind shoppers to ‘check in’ which will advertise to all their friends the are shopping there and reward them with vouchers or other offers.

Have you used your phone to get a better deal?

(Source: Flickr / fernando)