eBay Increases Mobile Commerce Predictions

eBay seems to think that 2013 will truly be the year of mCommerce as it just reviewed its global mCommerce forecast for the coming year. The company believes the mobile channel will generate in excess of $20 billion in sales.

The review comes as eBay reveals that more than four million new customers shopped the site through the mobile channel in 2012. According to the company, eBay’s host of mobile apps have now been downloaded more than 120 million times – an 20% increase from September 2012, when it reached a milestone.

“Just four years ago, mobile commerce had barely taken off. Now we’re expecting to see over $20 billion worth of sales in just one year, demonstrating the huge opportunity that mobile presents,” said Olivier Ropars, senior director, Mobile, eBay. Consumers now carry a global store in their pocket and our research shows they check their mobiles around 40 times a day. That’s 40 opportunities for retailers to engage with potential customers, while the ability to shop on the move increases the likelihood to spend.

eBay really believes the mobile channel is here to stay and will show its true potential in the coming years. They predict that by 2015, the value of their global mobile transactions will reach $119 billion.