Smartphone vs. cash - What would you pay for using a cell phone?
When it comes to money, everyone is naturally concerned with the issue of security. Nearly all of those surveyed said that trust in the security of the payment system is especially important. Almost equally important (Germany 96% / US 94%) is the consumer demand for a mobile payment system that is very easy to use. And those surveyed in both countries said that acceptance of the mobile payment system is an essential factor. Nine in ten consumers (Germany 96% / US 92%) demand that the payment system must function nearly everywhere, and not just in a few isolated stores. Also of extreme relevance to nearly all those surveyed (Germany 96% / US 89%) is the ability to keep track of one’s own expenses and accounts when using the smartphone as a payment device.
And what kinds of things would Germans and Americans buy using their smartphones? It should come as no surprise that the smartphone received high ratings as a device for purchasing small items: 70% (Germany) and 75% (US) of those surveyed could imagine buying bus or subway tickets using a smartphone rather than cash or cards.
However, the latest survey did indicate a key trend: payment via smartphone will likely expand to other areas of daily life. For example, every second German (45%) and three in five Americans (61%) could imagine paying for furniture, electronic devices, and other large purchases using a smartphone instead of cash or cards. The percentage is even higher among those surveyed who already use a smartphone: 49% and 78%.
In Germany, more than half of those surveyed would be likely to use a smartphone for grocery shopping: 57% would use the device in supermarkets, and also in bookstores and drugstores. In the United States, two in three consumers surveyed (68%) would do this.
