Nearly half the number of smartphone users in the Asia Pacific region have used their mobile devices for shopping, revealed a MasterCard survey.

The survey, which was carried out from October to December 2014, showed that 45.6 per cent of mobile phone users in 14 Asia Pacific markets used their smartphone to purchase goods or services over the previous three months. This number has been steadily rising since the first survey in 2011, when the figure stood at 26.8 per cent.

Leading the pack was China at 70.1 per cent, followed by India and Taiwan at 62.9 per cent and 62.6 per cent respectively. Southeast Asian countries also posted strong results; Thailand came in fourth with 58.8 per cent and Indonesia’s figure was 54.9 per cent.

Countries such as Malaysia, Taiwan, and India witnessed phenomenal growth with percentages showing double-digit rises during the last year.

According to the survey, 49.5 per cent of mobile shoppers indicated convenience as the main reason for shopping using their mobile devices.

Faster internet connections and the availability of cheaper phones have contributed to the smartphone shopping boom in the Asia Pacific, where most countries had a smartphone penetration of more than 94 per cent, said the survey.

Companies within the region are transforming themselves in order to meet the increasing demand for mobile commerce. Indonesia’s Lippo Group unveiled plans to invest in the new online mall MatahariMall.com, while Singapore Telecommunications launched its premium mobile video streaming service HOOQ in Thailand, Philippines, and India this year.