Smartphones being used to buy online

16 May 2012, 5:13 pm   -   Source: AAP

An online survey by Google and Ipsos MediaCT of 1000 Australians has found 65 per cent of respondents accessed the internet from their devices.

Around 94 per cent of Australians with smartphones have used their device to research a good or service and 28 per cent have bought a product, a survey says.

An online survey by Google and research company Ipsos MediaCT of 1000 Australians found 65 per cent of respondents accessed the internet from their devices.

More than half of - 52 per cent - said they owned a smartphone compared with 37 per cent a year ago.

The use of smartphones by shoppers had been bad news for retailers as 22 per cent said they had changed their mind about purchasing a good or service in store after researching on their phones.

While shopping, 24 per cent said they had their smartphone to compare prices of products.

Most businesses had to upgrade their websites for smartphones, Google Australia head of mobile ads, Jason Pellegrino, said in a statement on Wednesday.

Around 79 per cent of local businesses had no website specifically for mobile devices such as smartphones. That could lose those firms future customers as 61 per cent of users in the survey said they were unlikely to re-access those sites with browser problems on their phones.

"Mobile is no longer optional: businesses need to develop a mobile strategy now, or risk getting left behind," Mr Pellegrino said.

Smartphones were rated higher than television for 23 per cent of respondents, who said they would rather ditch their TV than phone.

Watching footage on smartphones was popular with 65 per cent of respondents saying they had viewed videos, with 14 per cent doing so at least once a day.

The survey was conducted online during the first three months of 2012.

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