The number of payments made via mobile phone more than doubled in the past year, according to IDC Financial Insights' annual Consumer Payments Survey. The survey also found that one in three respondents have used a mobile payment method.

Of mobile payment users, more than half used PayPal Mobile. Amazon Payments and Apple's iTunes were both used by 40 percent of respondents who said they used mobile payments. 

Other mobile payment-related findings in IDC's study show that

• Online bill payment is the main way people pay bills now. Almost three-quarters (74 percent) of U.S. consumers use online tools to pay bills.
• Physical goods are bought more frequently on mobile devices than digital goods, online services and virtual currency.

"Based on our results, we expect to see continued growth in open-loop prepaid cards and mobile payments next year, and believe that the improvements being offered in electronic bill delivery will break electronic bill presentment and payment (EBPP) out of its doldrums as well," said Aaron McPherson, practice director, IDC Financial Insights.

IDC Financial Insights said the results for this year's study were more in line with historic trends. Last year's study, which showed low adoption of several payment technologies by financial institutions and consumers, reflected the severe recession and financial crisis, the company said.

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