How Consumers Are Using Smartphones in Stores

According to Nielsen, only 28% of U.S. consumers have smartphones, but the researcher projects that by the end of 2011, that number will hit 49%.

Thirty percent of consumers with smartphones said while at a store looking for a product, they scout out better deals on their device. The phone-based survey, by GfK Roper on behalf of SapientNitro, was conducted December 3-4 among a sample of 1,004 adults. Not all respondents had smartphones.

Other findings:

  • 52% used their smartphones to find a store location.
  • 48% used them to browse for products.
  • 40% compared prices with their smartphones.
  • 35% looked for discounts, deals, coupons or discount codes on their phones.
  • 34% checked product availability at retail stores or websites.