By: Becky Bracken

When you think about the strides communications technology has made in an incredibly short period of time, it's nothing short of breathtaking. We might not have the teleporter just yet, but we've got the Jetsons' video phone nailed. That's pretty impressive.

But the true unsung hero of communications technology evolution is shopping. That's right, good old fashioned selling stuff to people who don't even know what they want is driving the development of all sorts of innovations. Depressing? Perhaps. But also exhilarating. 

Service providers are trying to carve out new revenue streams and enabling commerce is one of the most obvious. There is no doubt that the ubiquity of smartphones and connectivity is changing the way people shop. In fact, according to comScore's latest findings, 38 percent of smartphone owners have used their phone to make a purchase at least once in the course of their device ownership. The most popular products purchased on smartphones during the month of September included digital goods, clothing/accessories, tickets and daily deals.

“Fueled by smartphone adoption, mobile is becoming a central part in the shopping funnel for many consumers,” said Mark Donovan, comScore senior vice president for mobile. “In September we saw two-thirds of all smartphone owners perform shopping activities on their phones, including comparing products and prices, searching for coupons, taking product pictures or locating a retail store. Considering there are currently 90 million smartphone owners in the U.S., retailers without a well-developed mobile strategy are not only missing a tremendous opportunity with these customers, but also risk becoming obsolete in the minds of these digital omnivores.”

iCommerce: You Want It, You Know You Want It

We're walking around with devices that allow us to inhabit a virtual mall. Also depressing? Maybe. But many service providers see a golden opportunity. Consumers' hunger to buy stuff is making it easier than ever to make a purchase -- anytime, anywhere.

Take a trip to the local farmer's market and Jimbob can whip out his card swipe smartphone attachment and accept your plastic faster than you can say “100 percent organic berries.” Even the most back-to-basics-minded folks realize cash is clumsy and over. Mobile payment is demolishing shopping boundaries. Service providers with all kinds of angles are eying mobile commerce opportunities.