SEATTLE - A new survey by Sterling Commerce reveals that 15 percent of all smartphone owners use their mobile devices in conjunction with their credit cards to make purchases, CreditNet reports.

"Today€™s consumers are transforming the shopping experience with their mobile phones, and retailers who have not broken down their siloed channels will not be able to keep up," said Jim Bengier, global retail industry executive for Sterling Commerce.

Among respondents to the survey, 28 percent said they were concerned about security when using their smartphone to make a payment, with 40 percent of those saying they would feel safer if their phone's applications did not store their credit card number.

Businesses are increasingly recognizing the value of smartphones and have begun offering mobile apps to assist in the purchasing process.