Mobile Gift Cards, Wallets and Apps

Ever since 2014, the total number of mobile device users in the world surpassed the total number of desktop computers, according to data tracked by ComScore. And as of 2015 80% of global consumers who access the Internet using their smartphone vs. 91% who access it a computer is almost identical, according to research by Mary Meeker. 

Since the number of people who are accessing the Internet via their mobile phone is growing and the number of people who are accessing the Internet via computer is shrinking, retail stores and restaurant chains that want to capture and keep the attention of U.S. consumers are concentrating on establishing a mobile presence. 

What that means is an expanded offering of mobile gift cards, electronic gift card wallets, and mobile gift card apps that make selling, storing, redeeming, and sending gift cards via mobile devices as easy and practical as any old-fashioned plastic gifting counterpart. Three questions that shoppers are asking, and that the largest U.S. retailers will need to be able to answer before the critical final days of the next Christmas holiday shopping season are:

• Can I purchase your gift card with my mobile phone?
• Can I deliver your gift card via text message to the recipient?
• Can the gift card be used directly from the mobile phone without having to physically print it?

What follows is a list of the largest U.S. retailers that can answer "Yes!" to at least one of these three mobile gift card questions. This list is arranged alphabetically according to the name of the retailers. 

Retail Mobile Gift Cards: M-Commerce Wallets, and Apps Available For Sending and Receiving Today:

Aeropostale and Aeropostale p.s.

- $10 - $250 mobile gift cards offered
- E-gift cards redeemable both online and in Aeropostale stores with a mobile device
- Text delivery available via aeropostale.cashstar.com

- $25 - $50 mobile gift cards offered

- Mobile gift card purchase and text delivery available via gyft.com and giftcardmall.com

- E-gift cards redeemable both online and in American Eagle stores with a mobile device
- Mobile gift card purchase and text delivery available via ae.com

Athleta

- E-gift cards redeemable in Adidas stores with a mobile device
- Mobile gift card purchase and text delivery available via gyft.com and giftcardmall.com

Babies 'R Us

- E-gift cards redeemable at 250 U.S. Babies 'R Us stores with a mobile device
- Mobile gift card purchase and text delivery available via gyft.com

Banana Republic

- Text delivery via bananrepublic.cashstar.com and giftcardmall.com

Gap

- Text delivery via gap.cashstar.com and giftcardmall.com

- Use your mobile phone to buy a gift card, and redeem your gift card in the store by showing it on your phone
- Mobile gift card purchase and text delivery also available via gyft.com

Lady Foot Locker

- eGift cards can be redeemed on the mobile website, and you can redeem the gift card in stores by showing it on your mobile device.
- Mobile gift card purchase and text delivery also available via gyft.com and giftcardmall.com

Old Navy

- Text delivery available via oldnavy.cashstar.com and giftcardmall.com

Sephora

- You can deliver an eGift card via text message
- Mobile gift card purchase and text delivery also available via gyft.com

Target

- Target gift cards can be converted to mobile gift cards by choosing an amount which will then be sent to your recipient. The gift card will be available by link; it will take mobile gift card about 4 hours to be delivered o the gift recipient via text.

Whole Foods Market

- Virtual gift cards can be used from a mobile device
- Mobile gift card purchase and text delivery available via gyft.com

Why Aren't There More Mobile Gift Cards Available?

M-commerce, most commonly referred to as mobile retailing, is not new to the U.S. retail industry. But the technology innovations which allows consumers to purchase, store, and redeem gift cards on their cell phones and mobile devices improving faster than a speeding flash sale and new options for mobile-oriented audiences are quickly expanding and evolving. ​

Electronic gift cards and e-gift certificates are commonplace these days, and almost all of the largest U.S. retail chains offer non-physical gift card options. So when it comes to moving gift cards off the computer screen and onto a mobile device, it's just about the technology that allows mobile delivery and mobile usage of existing e-gift card offers. 

Apparently, though, to say that mobile gift cards are "just about the technology," is saying a lot since a vast majority of the largest U.S. retail chains don't yet have their own mobile gift card option. Instead, most of the largest U.S. retailers are making use of the mobile technology of a service provider rather than developing their own.

The mobile gift card service provider that is currently used the most is Gyft.com, a digital gift card platform that allows users to purchase, send, and redeem major retail and restaurant gift cards completely with mobile devices. There are "hundreds" of gift cards available for purchase using Gyft. What follows is a list of the most popular ones.

Retail and Restaurant Gift Cards Available from Gyft.com

• 1-800-Baskets
• 1-800-Flowers
• 1-800 pet supplies
• Adidas
• Aerie
• AllPosters.com
• Art.com
• Barnes & Noble
• Bass Pro Shops
• Bath & Body Works
• Belk
• Best Buy
• Brookstone
• Build-a-Bear Workshop
• Burlington Coat Factory
• CB2
• Cabela's
• Callaway Golf
• CanvasPop
• Casual Male XL
• Catherine's
• Champs Sports
• Chefs
• Cheryl's Cookies
• Crate & Barrel
• Crutchfield
• Dell
• Destination XL
• Express
• Foot Locker
• FTD
• FragranceNet.com
• Fruit Bouquets
• GameStop
• Gap Factory
• Gilt.com
• Golfsmith Golf & Tennis
• Grotto
• Groupon
• Hot Topic
• Kmart
• Kohl's
• Land of NodLands' End
• LobsterGram
• Lord & TaylorLowe's
• Magazines.com
• More info about the Piperlime mobile gift card >>
• NASCAR.com
• NFL.com
• Nike
• Nintendo eShop
• Overstock.com
• Piperlime
• Pottery Barn Teen
• Pro Am Golf
• Rochester Big & Tall
• Sears
• Shutterfly
• Sports Authority
• Staples
• Stein Mart
• Steiner Sports Memorabilia
• T-Rex
• The Children's Place
• The Popcorn Factory
• Torrid
• Toys 'R Us
• Victoria's Secret
• West Elm
• Wine Enthusiast
• Wine.com
• XBox LIVE
• ZalesZappos.com
• eBay
• iTunes
• JCPenney