User Behaviour and Attitudes Towards Consumer Issues on Markets for Online and Mobile Products & Services

The paper investigates the specific challenges created by new online services and delivery methods with regard to the protection of consumers interests. By means of a survey of a representative sample of online consumers in five EU countries, the authors found a high degree of interest in young online and mobile products and services including online pay-media, downloads of pay-software, location-based online services and online pharmacies. The survey results also provide evidence that the degree to which consumer concerns are taken seriously by providers and regulators are likely to exert a strong influence on people’s willingness to purchase novel products and make use of novel online distribution channels.