23% of smartphone owners made a purchase with an app for the first time last year
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A new survey of U.S adults indicates a majority of smartphone owners (56%) purchased a product using an app in 2015. The survey shows 23% of smartphone owners took this step for the first time last year. The sampling of mobile commerce habits commissioned by Verizon also reveals rapid growth in consumers using apps to book rides, flights and restaurants as well as make banking transactions.
By age group, 70% of millennials (18-34) made a product purchase using an app last year; an 85% increase over 2014.
Purchased a product using a smartphone app in 2015 (56% total)
- 70% of Millennials
- 66% of Gen X
- 39% of Baby Boomers
In addition, 55% of smartphone owners made a mobile banking transaction using an app. The growing adoption of banking apps last year is confirmed in the survey, with 23% of U.S. smartphone owners making a mobile bank transaction for the first time last year; a 70% increase over the previous year.
Made a bank transaction using a smartphone app in 2015 (55% total)
- 67% of Millennials
- 62% of Gen X
- 43% of Baby Boomers
The fastest growing category in the survey was ordering a taxi or car ride, which increased 124% from the prior year. Overall, 22% of adults surveyed used an app to book a ride during 2015, compared to 10% in 2014.
Ordered a taxi or car ride using a smartphone app in 2015 (total 22%)
- 36% of Millennials
- 23% of Gen X
- 8% of Baby Boomers
The survey also found that, among adult smartphone users in the U.S.:
- 26% used an app to book a restaurant, with 11% of them reserving a table with an app for the first time last year (72% increase).
- 22% used an app to purchase an airline flight; with 8% making their maiden booking last year (54% increase).
The survey was conducted Jan 4-6 by KRC Research for Verizon.
Scott Charlston is a corporate communications manager for Verizon Wireless. His primary area of focus is device content for smartphones, tablets, accessories and wearables including HD Voice, Wi-Fi Calling, Family Base, Usage Controls, Message+, the My Verizon app, Verizon Cloud and IndyCar Mobile app.
