Shopping through mobile phones has emerged as a favorite option for residents of smaller cities, according to a survey in India. The study shows that 49 per cent of mobile commerce users, or half of its universe from a sample user base of 1,345 people, are from non-metro cities.

Apple's Passbook is fast-becoming a marketing cornerstone for European restaurateurs. According to details presented in a new case study, a UK restaurant chain capitalized on Passbook to generate customer interest and drive new sales.

The Boise State University has become the first in Idaho to facilitate pay-by-phone parking services. The university has only a modest interest in the field of mobile commerce, but believes that students would be better served by integrating a mobile commerce service into parking. The initiative is based on the use of an app designed specifically as a mobile payment parking solution.

Mobile commerce is growing more prolific around the world, becoming increasingly important for retailers and large brands to begin accommodating the needs of a growing consumer base that is tethered to mobile technology. As businesses begin to focus more on mobile commerce, consumers are also becoming increasingly reliant on the information they can find online, bringing more attention to the concept of social commerce. Social networks and other forms of online engagement are aiding in the continued evolution of mobile commerce by introducing more dynamic aspects to this still emerging sector.

Based on details contained in Amazon's filing with United States Patent and Trademark Office, the company's "Anonymous mobile payments" platform is described as a system that would allow mobile users to complete transactions without revealing personal details to the retailer.

Online businesses in the United Kingdom are unprepared for the rapid shift to mobile, do not see mobile as a significant area for growth and a sizable proportion are ignorant about next generation 4G mobile, according to a new report.

Consumers in Turkey cam now make contactless payments for transport services in the Sanliurfa province using their mobile phones. In addition, they can check and top up their Urfakart balances without having to go to a payment point.

Anheuser-Busch's Michelob Ultra is making a major mobile play in its Ultra Foursome sweepstakes this year with QR codes, SMS and social media. Users who click on the posts promoting the Ultra Foursome sweepstakes can fill out a form with information such as their name, birthdate, phone number and email.

Mobile commerce in India is being driven by 3G, according to a new survey. The convenience of mobile shopping is drew more than half of consumers to mobile shopping. More than half of mobile shoppers chose to use their phones for mobile commerce while 18 percent use their mobile and tablet devices equally.

It takes just one high-profile loss for consumers to completely lose faith in a retailer's or national brand's mobile operations. After all, m-commerce is not yet viewed as a necessity for modern life. Consumers aren't as attached to it as they are to social media or 24-7 cellphone connectivity. If mobile commerce seems unsafe, it doesn't cause much hardship to avoid it.