Providing market intelligence for more than 35 years

More than 25 percent of U.S. smartphone owners use payment apps at least once a month, according to recent data compiled by Dallas-based research and consulting firm Parks Associates.

The firm said more than three million retailers now accept popular payment services like Apple Pay and Android Pay, but its data indicates consumers currently prefer retailer-specific applications.

"To be frank, I think this has a lot to do with consumers' loyalty to certain brands," said Harry Wang, director of mobile and health research with Parks Associates. "If you have a strong loyalty to the brands, you're more likely to shop at the place and you want to experience the brand in every angle possible, and the payment is part of the experience. Especially if a retailer includes loyalty cards and discounts to consumers that provide more incentive to use those applications."

From the article "Experts: Wal-Mart Pay Needs Perks" by Robbie Neiswanger.

Previously In The News

Roku Swings to Second-Quarter Loss on Slower Ad Spending

San Jose, Calif.-based Roku is the nation’s largest maker of streaming hardware—accounting for about 37% of the U.S. market, according to Parks Associates—but it derives most of its revenue from adver...

Despite content concerns, Europeans Want 4k

Among these future buyers, 54% are willing to purchase a 4k TV with the expectation that more content will be available soon, according to Parks Associates. “European broadcasters like BBC and Fran...

Parks: Third Of UK Broadband Households Are OTT Subscribers

Parks Associates says 33% of U.K. broadband households subscribed to an OTT video service as of 3Q 2015. The same study shows that only 15% of U.K. households with pay-TV subscribe to premium movie ch...

When Is It Worth Giving Up Your Data? Americans Aren’t Quite Sure

But thermostats that collect data on you aren’t a hypothetical. In fact, they’re quickly becoming the standard: By 2017, market research firm Parks Associates estimates more than half of the thermosta...