The research group Ovum has stated that online shopping. numbers in the UK are likely to double over the next three years. This is in part due to the rising popularity of mobile-device shopping, which makes it easier for consumers to make purchases online.

According to the research, 28 percent of the adult population in the United Kingdom could access the internet via their mobile phone in 2009, but only 2.1 percent used their device to shop online.. As phone manufacturers and website owners work to make the online shopping. experience simpler, these numbers will increase.

"The opportunities are there for the most proficient multichannel retailers to claim a share of the growing cross-channel expenditure by exploiting the possibilities provided by mobiles to seamlessly link the online and instore environments," said Christine Bardwell, senior retail technology analyst at Ovum.

The study did indicate that many consumers use their mobile devices to research items before purchase. A smaller percentage use their phones to engage and interact with retailers while shopping at stores.

Shopping online is an excellent way to find great deals. However, consumers must be sure to protect their personal information. One way to do so is to make purchases through a secure online company that manages transactions.