Fueled by pandemic, contactless mobile payments to surpass half of all smartphone users in U.S. by 2025

Joined
Mar 30, 2005
Messages
9,571
Reaction score
25
Points
48
Among other technology trends accelerated by the Covid-19 pandemic, the use of contactless mobile payments boomed in 2020. According to a recent report by analyst firm eMarketer, in-store mobile payments usage grew 29% last year in the U.S., as the pandemic pushed consumers to swap out cash and credit cards for the presumably safer mobile payments option at point-of-sale.

Last year, 92.3 million U.S. consumers age 14 or older used proximity-based mobile payments at least one time during a 6-month period in 2020 — a figure the firm expects to grow to reach 101.2 million this year. And that usage is now on track to surpass half of all smartphone users by 2025, eMarketer forecasts.

264707.png

Image Credits: eMarketer

Adoption last year was largest among younger consumers, including Gen Z and millennials. The former is expected to account for more than 4 million of the total 6.5 million new mobile wallet users per year from 2021 to 2025. Millennials, meanwhile, will continue to account for around 4 in 10 mobile wallet users.

Several industry reports had already noted the pandemic impacts on the mobile wallet industry in general, with one from earlier this month by finance and investment company Finaria estimating that the industry would grow 24% from last year to reach $2.4 trillion in 2021. It had said that while Asian markets and particularly China had been leading the way in mobile payments adoption, the U.S. had earlier struggled due to the slow rollout of mobile payment technologies by retail stores. But now, the U.S. has grown to become the second-largest market with $465.1 billion worth of mobile payment transactions, which will grow to $698 billion in 2023.

The pandemic had pushed lagging retailers to finally get on board with mobile payments. A mid-year survey published in 2020 by the National Retail Federation and Forrester, found that no-touch payments had increased for 69% of retailers, and that 67% now accept some form of contactless payment, including both mobile payments and contactless cards.

264709.png

Image Credits: eMarketer

As a result of the industry changes, eMarketer reports that not only has mobile wallet usage increased, the average annual spend per user is increasing, as well. The firm predicts that figure will grow 23.6% from ~$1,973.70 in 2020 to $2,439.68 in 2021, and will surpass $3,000 by 2023.

In the U.S., Apple Pay remains the top mobile payment player with 43.9 million users in 2021, growing by 14.4 million between 2020 and 2025 — more than its competitors. Starbucks will remain the No. 2 player with 31.2 million users, followed by Google Pay, which will add 10.2 million users during that time frame. Samsung Pay, meanwhile, is seeing stagnant growth, adding just 2 million more users between 2020 and 2025.

264708.png

Image Credits: eMarketer

6tv7RpEA0mE


Click here to view the article...
 

chscag

Well-known member
Staff member
Admin
Joined
Jan 23, 2008
Messages
65,248
Reaction score
1,833
Points
113
Location
Keller, Texas
Your Mac's Specs
2017 27" iMac, 10.5" iPad Pro, iPhone 8, iPhone 11, iPhone 12 Mini, Numerous iPods, Monterey
Mobile payments are convenient, however, there is always a downside to the upside. :) And that is your credit card or bank information in my opinion has a greater chance of being compromised.
 
Joined
Jan 1, 2009
Messages
15,512
Reaction score
3,876
Points
113
Location
Winchester, VA
Your Mac's Specs
MBP 16" 2023 (M3 Pro), iPhone 15 Pro, plus ATVs, AWatch, MacMinis (multiple)
Mobile payments are convenient, however, there is always a downside to the upside. :) And that is your credit card or bank information in my opinion has a greater chance of being compromised.
I use Apple Pay with my  Watch and iPhone. I have a couple of cards registered in the wallet so I have options What I really like about it is that the number transmitted is not my card number and is only used for the one transaction, so even if it is caught by a "lurker" nearby, it's useless to use again. And if I understand the technology, even Apple doesn't have the true card information as they negotiate a session with the card issuer on the fly to register the transaction. My card number only goes through the net once, on setup, then not again.
 
Joined
Aug 2, 2011
Messages
2,014
Reaction score
184
Points
63
Location
Tyneside, UK
Your Mac's Specs
MBP Retina mid 2015 15.4" 16GB 2.5 GHz OS Monterey; iPhone 12 128gb; iPad Mini 5, 64gb
Much prefer using Apple Pay rather than cash but it can be temperamental about big transactions even though there is no set maximum.
 
Joined
Sep 30, 2007
Messages
9,962
Reaction score
1,235
Points
113
Location
The Republic of Neptune
Your Mac's Specs
2019 iMac 27"; 2020 M1 MacBook Air; macOS up-to-date... always.
I wish everyone would get on board with Apple Pay so I can stop carrying a card around. We're getting there! More of the gas stations I use now take it at the pump. Right now, I think it's mainly just one large grocery store chain that isn't on board yet that is the biggest hold out here.
 

chscag

Well-known member
Staff member
Admin
Joined
Jan 23, 2008
Messages
65,248
Reaction score
1,833
Points
113
Location
Keller, Texas
Your Mac's Specs
2017 27" iMac, 10.5" iPad Pro, iPhone 8, iPhone 11, iPhone 12 Mini, Numerous iPods, Monterey
I believe Walmart is likewise a holdout. They would probably be considered the largest.

I haven't tried Apple Pay at our local Kroger or Safeway yet so not sure they accept it.
 
Joined
Sep 30, 2007
Messages
9,962
Reaction score
1,235
Points
113
Location
The Republic of Neptune
Your Mac's Specs
2019 iMac 27"; 2020 M1 MacBook Air; macOS up-to-date... always.
I believe Walmart is likewise a holdout. They would probably be considered the largest.

I haven't tried Apple Pay at our local Kroger or Safeway yet so not sure they accept it.

Yeah, but if I'm not mistaken, you can at least use an app with a QR code at Walmart to avoid carrying a card if you really wanted to. I don't use whatever it is myself (Apple Pay or Bust!). But the grocery chain in question has no options for anything other than cash or card here. It's really kinda baffling.
 

Shop Amazon


Shop for your Apple, Mac, iPhone and other computer products on Amazon.
We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon and affiliated sites.
Top