A recent MasterCard survey indicates the majority of smartphone users between the ages of 18-34 are ready to embrace NFC or mobile payments.
Device manufacturers, credit card companies and carriers are all attempting to jump on the NFC bandwagon, which has been slated as the “next big thing” for 2011/2012.
The MasterCard study claims 63 percent of 18-34 year olds would be willing to make purchases on their mobile phone, versus those 35 and older who weighed in at only 37 percent.
The survey also revealed that 65 percent of consumers ages 18-34 feel more naked without their mobile phones than their wallets, compared to 34 percent of those 35 and older.
According to MasterCard, mobile payments are likely to be initially embraced by younger early adopters before the older age groups become accustomed to the new technology.
Beyond mobile payments, the survey found that approximately 54 percent of people judge others based on their mobile phones, stating that a mobile phone is “much more telling” of an individual’s personality than their wallet.
Lastly, the study claimed 45 percent of women would rather have their mobile phone surgically attached than their wallet, so they’d always remember to bring it with them.
Interestingly enough, despite the interest in mobile payments, around 62 percent of respondents worried about the security of mobile payments – saying they would need confirmation their personal information is safe before making a transaction.
