Despite major concerns over privacy and data security, people around the world are rapidly adopting the mobile internet as an easy and convenient method of carrying out everyday transactions including banking and shopping, a new global survey from KPMG, the audit, tax and advisory services firm, has found.
Compared to only 18 months ago, the global percentage of respondents who have used their mobile device for banking has more than doubled from 19 per cent to 46 per cent, while the percentage that have used it to buy goods and services has gone from 10 per cent to 28 percent.
This surge is being led by the world’s fastest-developing economies, the survey said.
In China, 77 per cent of respondents say they have used their mobiles for banking and 44 per cent for retail transactions, while in India 38 per cent are using them to shop, and 43 per cent for financial business.
More than 90 per cent of respondents in South Korea, France, South Africa, Slovakia, Romania, Brazil and Russia as well as India and China said they were concerned over privacy and security online, in many cases more now than 18 months ago.
Respondents in the Czech Republic and the Netherlands are the most relaxed about this issue, but even here, more than seven out of 10 said it is a matter of concern.
Covering 22 countries, the 2010 report surveyed more than 5,600 people on their day-to-day use of mobile and PC technology.
The survey ‘Consumers and Convergence IV’ is the fourth edition of a regular survey examining how consumers use technology, carried out by KPMG.
Globally, 43 per cent of respondents said they are now willing to pay for access to frequently used online content. Among the Asia-Pacific countries, this raises to 59 per cent, with China and India the clear global leaders at 63 per cent and 65 percent.
Globally, 43 per cent of respondents said they are now willing to pay for access to frequently used online content. Among the Asia-Pacific countries, this raises to 59 per cent, with China and India the clear global leaders at 63 per cent and 65 per cent.
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