According to eMarketer: 73.3 million Americans own smartphones, many are turning to their phones to help them shop. eMarketer cites a Chadwick Martin Bailey/ iModerate Research Technologies survey revealed that 50+% of consumers polled reported used their smartphones to assist them with shopping.

For iPhone users the numbers were even more striking: over 70% reported using applications or the web browser while shopping in-store, and 41% are making purchases directly from their phones.

So a website is critical to even brick-and-mortar business success!

Top Mobile Shopping Activities of US Smartphone Users

There are 73.3 million US smartphone users in 2011, eMarketer estimates, and many are turning to their phones to help them shop. A study conducted in January by Chadwick Martin Bailey and iModerate Research Technologies revealed that more than half of 1,400 consumers polled reported using their smartphones to assist them with shopping. The research found that more than 70% of iPhone owners report using applications or their smartphone’s web browser to help them while shopping in-store, and 41% are making purchases directly from their phones.

According to the study released in March, 66% of respondents used their smartphones to conduct price comparisons on a product or service and 58% used them to find the closest store locations. While 41% of those polled said they had made purchases from their smartphones, just 17% said that making a purchase was their reason for using a smartphone.

This data is in line with comScore findings, also from January, which identified the top three mobile shopping activities for US smartphone users: finding nearby stores (49%), comparing prices prior to shopping (46%) and researching product details (44%).

Research from Accenture on retail shopping apps found that consumers considered those that offer money-off coupons (42%) and the ability to view current in-store specials (36%) most useful. But somewhat in line with Chadwick Martin Bailey and comScore, driving directions to the store (33%) was the third most useful function according to those polled.

What Shoppers Want from Retail Apps

As more consumers make smartphones their everyday companions, mobile commerce is taking hold. But the mainstream of mobile commerce is not yet based around making purchases via mobile, but in using phones as a shopping aid—for store location, product research and finding deals. Consumers are eager to check their phones for info, but retailers have been behind the game.

According to October 2010 data from mobile and social marketing consultancy Brand Anywhere and Luth Research, for example, fewer than 5% of retailers have a mobile site. And research from Adobe found consumers were unimpressed with retailers’ mobile apps and preferred to simply browse the mobile web.

A fall 2010 survey from Accenture uncovers what shoppers would most like to see in a mobile app, separating the possibilities into apps designed for use in or out of the store. Coupons were considered the most useful app features for any location.

Other useful features for apps used out of the store focused on giving the customer a reason to go in: The ability to view in-store specials before entering a store, to get driving directions and to find out if an item is in stock were all considered more useful than being able to purchase a product via mobile.

Inside the store, shoppers were focused on ways to get more information about products, use their phone as a loyalty card and find items.

“Companies need to use all of their customer information to better understand how and when their customers want to engage with them, ask them questions or just check some basic product details,” said Janet Hoffman, managing director of Accenture’s Retail Services, in a statement. “Only then can they deliver a personalized and enjoyable experience, while lessening the risk of alienating customers through unwanted approaches.”