What term refers to buying and selling goods through mobile devices?

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The term for buying and selling goods through mobile devices is mobile commerce.

Mobile commerce, or m-commerce, is a branch of electronic commerce conducted through smartphones, tablets, and other portable connected devices. It includes shopping in mobile apps or browsers, placing orders, making digital payments, and sometimes using mobile devices to support in-store purchases.

The category expanded as mobile internet connections, app stores, and smartphone cameras became widespread. Mobile wallets and contactless payment systems added another important layer, letting a phone function as a payment instrument. Retailers also use location services, push notifications, QR codes, and one-click checkout to tailor the mobile buying experience.

E-commerce is the broader term and includes desktop and other online transactions, so it is not the most precise answer here. Social commerce focuses on transactions influenced or completed through social platforms, while omnichannel describes a coordinated customer experience across channels rather than purchases specifically made on mobile devices.

Source: Wikipedia · fact-checked Sept. 2026

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