Brits using mobiles to do their Christmas shopping

 

Tomorrow is “Panic Saturday” and more Brits will turn to mobiles for last-minute Christmas shopping.

More Brits are using mobile phones to buy Christmas gifts, with activity peaking tomorrow on “Panic Saturday”.

20% of consumers will wait until 18 December to check gift prices using a mobile phone, according to a new survey from shopping website PriceGrabber.co.uk.

A separate survey by Orange (www.orange.co.uk) found that 31% of its customers shop using their smartphones while watching the telly, with a further 18% using mobile phones to buy Christmas gifts from their beds.

Steve Ricketts, head of mobile commerce at Orange, said: “Mobiles are making shopping easier this Christmas, as people can buy presents in secret from their phones.”

Simon Piper, business development manager at Mobilechoices.co.uk, said: “Mobile phone shopping applications and mobile websites have removed the hassle of browsing for and buying Christmas gifts online.

“But Panic Saturday may well live up to its name this year, as freezing weather will make shopping trips difficult in much of the UK and hold up some Christmas deliveries too.”

The most popular purchases from a mobile phone this Christmas will be:

• Books (11%)
• Digital content, such as music (10%)
• Clothing (9%)
• Gadgets (8%).

Read our complete guide to doing your Christmas shopping from your smartphone.

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