All business owners and managers know that they need to offer their products and services online in order to attract as many customers as possible. Yet as customer's shopping preferences change, it's clear that products now need to be offered through many different communication devices - most notably, through smartphones. 

Sales made through mobile credit card processing terminals in the U.S. will grow by an estimated 63 percent during 2013, according to the Internet Retailer's report, named 2014 Mobile 500, representing a total of more than $34 billion in revenue. That's up starkly from the $21 billion spent during 2012, indicating that consumers are accessing credit card terminals through their cell phones more than ever before. 

Mobile sales are also taking up a much larger percentage of the total money spent at online credit card processing terminals. Mobile spending will account for roughly 13 percent of all sales made online during 2013, according to the report. During 2012, less than 10 percent of all online sales were made via smartphones. 

Michael Putnam, the vice president of mobile commerce at RueLaLa.com, told Internet Retailer that he feels a large number of customers are now either originating from mobile devices, or are using them more often than before. 

"Our customers are going more mobile all the time and we are going where they are," Putnam told the news source. "We have made mobile commerce a strategic priority, it's been a huge change for the business."

As holidays approach, smartphones become point of focus for retailers
As the Christmas season encroaches, customers will be shopping on their smartphones even more - as it allows them to avoid the traffic and long lines that are usually associated with busy shopping hours. 

More than 40 percent of smartphone owners plan to do some of their Christmas shopping using the device, according to a report completed jointly between eDigitalResearch and IMRG. In addition, more than 60 percent of individuals who plan to shop using their smartphones expect to spend more using their mobile device this year than they had during 2012. 

"Back in 2010 just 35 percent of smartphone owners said that they would even consider doing Christmas shopping from their devices," said Derek Eccleston, commercial director at eDigitalResearch. "This Christmas, retailers are likely to see more festive purchases through mobile sites and apps than ever before. As a result, retailers and brands need to ensure that they are ready for the usual Christmas shopping spree and provide a seamless shopping experience no matter what channel a consumer uses."