A growing number of Hungarians use their mobile phone for price comparison

A recent study by Nielsen emphasises that the mobile phone is the most important communication device and medium for many people.

Although mobile shopping is still in an early stage of development on world level, a growing number of smartphone owners use their devices to compare prices and gather information about products while shopping. Hungarians look at the price (39 percent) and the brand (37 percent) first when buying a mobile phone. In comparison with the average of 29 European countries, Hungarians give smaller significance to the functions and the purpose of usage (Hungary: 13 percent – European average: 26 percent). To the question ‘I use my mobile to compare prices. Do you agree with this statement?’ 4 percent of Hungarians answered with ‘yes’ and 6 percent agreed partially. 18 percent were neutral about it, 12 percent didn’t really agree and 60 percent answered with ‘no’. The European average was: yes – 6 percent, partially agreed – 12 percent, couldn’t decide – 19 percent, didn’t really agree – 22 percent and no – 41 percent. When Nielsen asked consumers about using their mobiles for learning more about products, 10 percent of Hungarians mentioned mobiles first, 5 percent named electronic devices for personal use, 4 percent named household appliances and food, beverages, drugs and medicinal products got 3 percent, while 1 percent said they gather information about cosmetics with their mobile. These ratios give more or less the same order of importance as the European average. n