MasterCard: 62% of subscribers open to mobile payments

According to a new consumer survey published by financial services giant MasterCard, 62 percent of U.S. mobile subscribers indicate they would be open to making purchases using their phones. Respondents between the ages of 18 and 34 are driving interest in m-commerce, with 63 percent indicating they would be at ease making mobile-enabled purchases, compared to 37 percent of respondents 37 and older--in addition, 65 percent of users between 18 and 34 say they feel more naked without their phones than without their wallets, compared to 34 percent of those 35 and up.

MasterCard notes that interest in mobile payments also differs across gender lines, with 51 percent of males stating they would be at ease making a purchase with their phone, compared to 40 percent of females. In addition, 49 percent of men and 45 percent of women said someone paying a bill with a mobile app instead of a credit card would impress them. At the same time, 50 percent of women feel more exposed without their mobile device than without their wallets, compared to 36 percent of men.

In late March, The Wall Street Journal reported MasterCard is collaborating with Google (NASDAQ:GOOG) to embed contactless payment technologies in Android smartphones. The report states that the proposed payment system will enable debit and credit cardholders to fund point-of-sale transactions at participating retailers--in addition, Google will supply merchants with more insight into their customers and will help them target ads and discount offers to Android users in and around their stores. Google is not expected to claim a percentage of the resulting transaction fees, but it will instead generate revenue via advertising sales.

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