The rise in the use of m-commerce apps has been significant in recent years as more and more consumers pick up smartphone devices and the idea of shopping from your portable device is better understood.

If you have a smartphone or a tablet then you will doubtlessly have explored the app download service which it supports and perhaps tinkered with a few games. However, if you have yet to take the plunge and actually use an app to make a purchase then it will probably be sensible to discuss how this works, what the risks are and why you might start shopping from your gadget more often.

The best shopping apps are typically those developed by established retailers, because they have the expertise and funding available to make the experience as good as possible.

This is particularly good news for existing customers who have already carried out online shopping with a retailer that offers a smartphone app. The reason for this is that you will often be able to log into the equivalent app with your existing account details, which makes ordering and payment far easier.

A solid shopping app should be able to offer all of the same features that you would find on the full site, which includes searchable catalogues of products across various categories. Not every app will necessarily live up to expectations, but you can use your smartphone`s app download platform to read user reviews and find out which are the best.

If all else fails you could decide to simply use your phone`s browser to visit the retailer`s site, although if it lacks optimisation for touchscreen devices then you could have a tough time completing transactions.

Some people have concerns about using shopping apps or smartphones in general to make payments, because there are concerns over the security of this type of feature. As a general rule, if you trust a retailer to handle your details with care when shopping from a laptop or PC then you can also be confident that their systems will keep you safe when using an official mobile app which they have developed.

Using mobile shopping apps you can buy everything from the weekly food shop to the latest video games and movies. You can even order takeaway food to be delivered to your door and a whole host of other services that do not require you to jump on a dedicated PC to access.

With the best mobile phone deals making smartphone ownership even more affordable, it makes sense to take advantage of the various shopping apps as soon as possible. You can organise your groceries during the morning commute or pre-order a Blu Ray before it hits the shops when you are sitting in a cafe or bar. If you want more flexibility to your life as a consumer then shopping apps will give it to you!