The number of Brazilians using mobile devices for purchase of products and services has increased with 84.2 % over the last 12 months.

"In June 2013, mobile transactions represented 3.8 % of the total e-commerce in Brazil — by June 2014, that number had gone up to 7 %. During that period, 2.89 million transactions were carried out, the equivalent of USD 497 million, according to the report WebShoppers by consultancy firm e-Bit. The key segments are fashion and accessories with 18 % of all sales, followed by cosmetics and health products with 16 % and electronics with 11 %."

"In Brazil, the lack of readiness for mobile, the precarious 3G coverage and low penetration of residential Wifi are the main hurdles for further development of mobile commerce in the country."

More info here.

Canada (84%) and Australia (54%) are US retailers’ top choices for cross-border ecommerce, Japan and New Zealand (39% each) come next in line.

"60% of Canada’s online shoppers buy from US merchants and 37% of the world’s cross-border shoppers are Canadian."

"7 out of every 10 online purchases made in Canada are from merchants outside the country."

"Australia’s ecommerce market is not subject to import tariffs or duties on any item under AUD 1,000 Australian. Consumers there also have high levels of disposable income, and goods sold at retail are expensive due to labor costs."

More info here.

Source Smartinsights.com

Source Wamda.com

The National Bank of the Kyrgyz Republic has issued new statements which claim that Bitcoin and other digital currency payments are not legal.

"The only legal tender in Kyrgyzstan is KGS, the national currency. At press time, 1 KGS was worth USD 0.019. The central bank has also warned consumers about the potential risks inherent in digital currencies which do not fall under the law’s responsibility."

"Data shows that the official Bitcoin-Qt wallet has only been downloaded around 1,000 times in the central Asian nation with a population just shy of 6 million, suggesting local digital currency use is not widespread."

More info here.