Average Consumer has Downloaded Three Shopping-Related Apps

LOS ANGELES, May 26, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- PriceGrabber®, a part of Experian, has announced the results of its mobile shopping survey, which shows widespread adoption of smartphones and a passion for getting the best deal have created a mobile shopping culture among consumers.

Web-enabled adoption increases during the past four years

According to PriceGrabber survey results, 2007 was the first year of mainstream consumer adoption of smartphones, with 11 percent of consumers purchasing their first Web-enabled phone. After 2007, consumer adaptation to smartphones continued to increase, with 16 percent of consumers purchasing their first Web-enabled phone in 2008. Twenty-two percent of consumers purchased their first Web-enabled phone in 2009, and 20 percent did so in 2010.

Consumers are looking for information and the best deal around

Survey participants (7,987 consumers completed the survey from March 3-25, 2011) also were asked how best to describe their shopping habits when it comes to purchasing electronics. Sixty-six percent said they like to get as much information as possible about an electronic device before they buy. Forty-eight percent stated they always shop for the best deal in electronics, and 25 percent love to buy new gadgets and appliances.

"Mainstream consumer adoption of smartphones, coupled with a consumer focus on getting the best deal, has helped to create a culture where consumers are becoming more and more reliant on their phones for their shopping needs," stated Graham Jones, general manager at PriceGrabber. "With a growing number of consumers utilizing their mobile phones to purchase goods and services, retailers must adapt to this technology quickly or be left behind."

Consumers turn to mobile shopping apps

PriceGrabber survey data also revealed the number of shopping apps downloaded by consumers. When consumers were asked how many apps they have downloaded to their Web-enabled phone, responses indicated that consumers had downloaded an average of 21 apps. Further analysis revealed that three of the 21 apps are shopping-related.

Majority of consumers use phones to receive coupons, deals and alerts

In addition to shopping from mobile applications, consumers use their mobile devices to perform a variety of other tasks. The majority of consumers (72 percent) indicated they already use their mobile phones to receive coupons, product deals and price alerts. Fifty-five percent said they actively use their mobile phone to browse the Web, and 34 percent compare prices online while shopping in a store. Thirty-three percent of survey respondents indicated they use their mobile phone to find nearby products to purchase, and 21 percent revealed they use product bar code scanning to find the best price.

About PriceGrabber.com®

PriceGrabber, a part of Experian, is a leading online shopping site with more than 23 million unique shoppers monthly. At PriceGrabber, savvy shoppers can instantly find and compare millions of unique products and services across 25 categories with more than 11,000 merchants. Compare products side by side to find the right retailers at the best prices within popular categories, such as Digital Cameras, Electronics, Computers, Clothing, Books, TVs and more. PriceGrabber provides shoppers with the right product from the right merchant at the best price anytime, anywhere. Visit us at http://www.pricegrabber.com.

About Experian

Experian is the leading global information services company, providing data and analytical tools to clients in more than 80 countries. The company helps businesses to manage credit risk, prevent fraud, target marketing offers and automate decision making. Experian also helps individuals to check their credit report and credit score, and protect against identity theft.

Experian plc is listed on the London Stock Exchange (EXPN) and is a constituent of the FTSE 100 index. Total revenue for the year ended 31 March 2011 was US$4.2 billion. Experian employs approximately 15,000 people in 41 countries and has its corporate headquarters in Dublin, Ireland, with operational headquarters in Nottingham, UK; California, US; and Sao Paulo, Brazil.

For more information, visit http://www.experianplc.com.

SOURCE PriceGrabber