Apple Pay, Google Wallet Appeal to 30% of Holiday Shoppers: Survey

An estimated 30% of American smartphone owners will use Apple Pay or Google Wallet while holiday shopping, according to a study commissioned by Stratos Inc.

The firm, based in Ann Arbor, Mich., makes a Bluetooth connected card that directly competes with Apple and Google’s alternative payment technologies. The Stratos product stores multiple payment and loyalty accounts on a single card. Stratos contracted an independent market targeting firm to conduct the online survey of 400 smartphone users between the ages of 20 and 50. The poll has a 4.9% margin for error.

The survey also found that 17% of respondents actually anticipated spending more because of the alternative payment options, while 69% were uncertain as to whether stores would have compatible hardware for accepting Near Field Communication payments.

With adoption still in its early stages, only 5% of respondents said they were more comfortable using contactless payments through their smartphone than using a debit or credit card.

"It is clear that people are interested in mobile payments but it doesn't mean they're going to abandon their cards," Thiago Olson, CEO of Stratos Inc., said in a statement.