Many Americans may own a smartphone but they are not comfortable with using them or their features such as payment options, note the latest Harris Poll.
This month is the 150th anniversary of paper money in the United States. The Harris Poll sought to learn when, if ever, people think that information stored on mobile phones beat out cash payments for purchasing.
- While very few people think that will happen within the next year (3%)over one in ten think it will happen in 1 to less than 3 years (13%) and 18% think it will happen between 3 and 5 years.
- One in five (21%) say it will happen in 5 to less than 10 years and 15% say it will happen in 10 years or more; 30% say it will never happen.
- There are only slight differences in opinion by age, although women think that this will happen in less than 3 years significantly more than men do (20% versus 13%).
- Men, on the other hand, are more likely to say it will happen in 10 years or more (17% versus 12%).
It seems at the moment technology capabilities outpace changing behavior—there are many new functions available that most people either haven't tried or admit to being uncomfortable with.
Just under half of Americans (47%) say they are comfortable using a mobile scan as an admission ticket to movies, concerts or live theater performances, while 38% are not comfortable with it — with 25% not at all comfortable; 15% are not sure. About the same number of people are comfortable (41%) and not comfortable (43%) using a mobile scan as an airline, train or other transportation ticket; 15% are again, not sure.
TABLE 1
SCANNED MOBILE PHONE FOR VARIOUS ITEMS
"Please say which of the following, if any, you have ever scanned your mobile or smart phone for."
Base: All Adults
|
|
Total |
Generation |
|||
|
Echo |
Gen X |
Baby |
Matures |
||
|
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
|
|
Admission to a movie |
5 |
10 |
5 |
2 |
1 |
|
As an airline ticket |
5 |
9 |
5 |
1 |
- |
|
To pay for a purchase such as clothing or electronics |
3 |
7 |
1 |
1 |
* |
|
Admission to a concert, live theater or performance |
3 |
5 |
3 |
1 |
* |
|
To pay for a convenience item, such as coffee |
3 |
6 |
2 |
1 |
- |
|
Something else |
7 |
8 |
10 |
5 |
2 |
|
I have never scanned my mobile or smart phone for any reason |
40 |
41 |
40 |
43 |
35 |
|
I do not have a mobile or smart phone with this capability |
45 |
35 |
42 |
48 |
62 |
Note: Percentages may not add up exactly to 100% due to rounding; * indicates less than .05%.
TABLE 2A
COMFORT WITH MOBILE PHONE CAPABILITIES
"Please say how comfortable you are, if at all, with each of the following."
Base: All Adults
|
|
Comfortable (NET) |
Very comfortable |
Somewhat comfortable |
Not comfortable (NET) |
Not very comfortable |
Not at all comfortable |
Not at all sure |
|
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
|
|
Using a mobile scan as an admission ticket to movies, concerts or live theater performances |
47 |
20 |
27 |
38 |
13 |
25 |
15 |
|
Using a mobile scan as an airline, train or other transportation ticket |
41 |
18 |
24 |
43 |
15 |
28 |
15 |
|
Using a mobile app that allows you to make purchases at a retailer or company like you would use a gift card |
39 |
15 |
24 |
47 |
17 |
30 |
14 |
|
Using a mobile app that would store your credit card information and allow you to make purchases at a retailer or company like you would with a credit card |
24 |
9 |
15 |
63 |
18 |
45 |
13 |
Note: Percentages may not add up exactly to 100% due to rounding.
TABLE 2B
COMFORT WITH MOBILE PHONE CAPABILITIES - DETAIL
"Please say how comfortable you are, if at all, with each of the following."
Summary of those saying "very comfortable" or "somewhat comfortable"
Base: All Adults
|
|
Total |
Generation |
Gender |
Has scanned phone |
|||||
|
Echo Boomers (18-35) |
Gen X (36-47) |
Baby Boomers (48-66) |
Matures (67+) |
Male |
Female |
Has |
Has not |
||
|
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
|
|
Using a mobile scan as an admission ticket to movies, concerts or live theater performances |
47 |
59 |
52 |
42 |
24 |
51 |
43 |
78 |
41 |
|
Using a mobile scan as an airline, train or other transportation ticket |
41 |
52 |
43 |
38 |
23 |
48 |
35 |
69 |
36 |
|
Using a mobile app that allows you to make purchases at a retailer or company like you would use a gift card |
39 |
48 |
42 |
35 |
24 |
42 |
36 |
64 |
34 |
|
Using a mobile app that would store your credit card information and allow you to make purchases at a retailer or company like you would with a credit card |
24 |
32 |
27 |
17 |
15 |
29 |
19 |
46 |
20 |
Note: Percentages may not add up exactly to 100% due to rounding.