According to a Jupiter Research report, "Video on Cell Phones: It's Real in 2005, but a Paying Consumer Audience Isn't," 44 percent of online consumers surveyed are interested in viewing video on their cell phones for free, but only 19 percent indicate they would be willing to pay anything for those services. Wireless carriers in the U.S. have launched mobile video applications demonstrating both the progress and the potential of the technology. The Jupiter report also finds the lack of network coverage, high prices for both handsets and service, and limited access to real time content, however, will dampen consumer interest in the near term. "Although consumer interest in mobile video is strong, the cell phone will remain a voice-centric device in the near term," stated Julie Ask, research director at Jupiter. "Only 4 percent of consumers cited the ability to watch video as a priority feature for them when purchasing their next handset. Carrier subsidies will be required to develop a mass market base of higher end handsets with the most advanced video functionality," added Ask.
For decades, the story of digital commerce has been one of incremental improvement: better search, faster checkout, smarter recommendations. But something more fundamental is now underway. The emergence of agentic commerce, in which AI agents autonomously search, evaluate, and execute purchases on behalf of buyers, represents a genuine architectural shift in how commerce operates. Whether it becomes the revolution its proponents promise, or another technology that peaks at interesting pilot project, will depend on how effectively the AI industry addresses the structural challenges it faces. Agentic Commerce Market Development Agentic commerce involves deploying AI agents to handle the full purchasing cycle. Rather than browsing a website and entering card details yourself, you grant an AI agent the authority to act on your behalf, within defined parameters. The agent handles product discovery, comparison, negotiation, and payment execution. It draws on your procurement preferences, pur...