Analysts at ABI Research are predicting some impressive growth in m-commerce in the next five years, especially as it relates to e-commerce. According to a new report, the m-commerce market is expected to account for nearly one-quarter (24.4 percent) of overall e-commerce revenues by the end of 2017.

The growth is being fuelled by the rapid adoption of smartphones in both mature and developing markets, the report said. Additionally, ABI Research's mobile commerce report said traditional brick-and-mortar retailers implementing multi-channel strategies in the face of increasing competition from Internet-based vendors are contributing to the growth.

"M-commerce is not yet mass market, but it is delivering remarkable growth in tough economic conditions," said ABI Research practice director John Devlin. "There remain questions as [to] how to best realize the value and ROI of m-commerce, but innovative retailers with the resources to invest in the development of their mobile portfolio have clearly identified this as the way forward."

According to ABI Research, even though it's still a small percentage of the e-commerce market, shopping via mobile device reached a "tipping point" last year. That's due to a move by merchats from standalone apps and storefronts to m-commerce platforms, apps, and services that are now being enhanced, optimized and integrated.

"Mobile is now transitioning from what was initially viewed by many as a retail experiment to a viable component of a full-blown multi-channel offering," Devlin said.

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