StealthNET Ltd

The mobile retail market will become a $12 billion (£8 billion) industry by 2014 due to mobile marketing and smartphone uptake, according to a new report.

Juniper Research has found in its 'mobile marketing and retail strategies report' that these factors will be key players in the future of the industry.

It predicted that digital marketing would eventually fully transfer onto the mobile sphere and that the retail industry is becoming increasingly aware of this and could use it to their advantage.

Howard Wilcox, co-author of the report, said: "Retailers have recognised that, even ahead of their wallets, people will usually make sure they do not leave home without their mobile device.

"The mobile channel offers merchants the opportunity to differentiate from their competition and acquire customers that become loyal."

Retailers and marketers could use mobiles to quickly change advertising and they could access young people much faster and easier than with regular handsets.