Fact Sheet: Consumers, QR Codes, and mCommerce

Mobile

April 2011 -- Featured data from a variety of recent sources covering consumers and their use of mobile phones, QR codes, and mobile commerce:
 

• Thirty-­one percent of all U.S. mobile users have smartphones (Source: Nielsen Co.)
   

• Smartphones are projected to be in the hands of 43% of mobile users by late 2015 (Source: eMarketer)
   

• Many U.S. top brands are using QR codes. These include Starbucks, GMC, Google, Weather Channel, Best Buy, Ford, Pepsi, Facebook, and more
   

• Thirty-­two percent of mobile devices users surveyed said they’ve used a QR code (Source: MGH Marketing)
   

• Roughly 62% of those who have scanned QR code have done so multiple times (Source: Mobio)
   

• Seven out of 10 say they would you be interested in using a QR code, for either the first time or again (Source: MHG Marketing)
   

• The majority of QR scanning in the U.S. is performed by consumers in the 35-­44 years of age bracket (25%), with steady adoption being seen among those 18-­54 years of age (84%) (Source: Mobio)
   

• Nearly four out of 10 (37%) of respondents surveyed in late 2010 said they use mobile devices to browse or research products and services.  This figure has grown from 27% reported in spring 2010 (Source: ATG)
   

• Top uses of those who said they have scanned a QR code were to get a promotional deal (53%) or obtain additional information (52%) (Source: MGH Marketing)
   

• Mobile barcode (1D and 2D) scanning traffic increased over 800% from this time a year ago (Source: ScanLife)
   

• Four out of 10 (41%) of consumers ages 18-­34 are using their mobile device to complete purchases of products and services with varying frequencies (Source: ATG)
   

• Print plays an important role in the top QR Code campaigns:
  
   

• U.S. mobile commerce quadrupled from 2009, reaching $4.9 billion at the close of 2010. The top purchases made via mobile devices: Travel-­related products and services (31%), computers and electronics (20%), and apparel (13%) (Source: ABI Research via Mobile Marketing Watch)
   

• In 2015, shoppers worldwide are projected to spend $163 billion on goods and services worldwide via mobile phones. This will represent about 12% of the total projected ecommerce market (Source: ABI Research via Mobile Marketing Watch).

Sources:

ABI Research, Mobile Commerce In The US To Reach $4.9 Billion This Year, Up From Just $363M In 2008 (Mobile Marketing Watch), December 2010.

ATG, Consumer Shopping Experiences, Preferences, and Behaviors, Fall 2010.

eMarketer, How Mainstream Are Mobile Apps?, January 2011.

MGH Marketing, QR Code Usage and Interest Survey, February 2011.

Mobio Identity Systems, Inc., The Naked Facts: QR Barcode Scanning in 2H-­2010, February 2011.

Nielsen Company, U.S. Smartphone Battle Heats Up, December 2010.

ScanLife, Mobile Barcode Trend Report Q1 2011, April 2011.