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EBay, PayPal predict the coming of "couch commerce" this Thanksgiving

It’s not just m-commerce, it's "couch commerce." And if eBay is right, couch commerce is going to be a big part of this year's holiday retail season.

According to an announcement today, online auction site eBay, the parent of payment provider PayPal, predicted a huge shift in shopping behavior over the Thanksgiving weekend towards consumers using tablets and mobile devices to make holiday purchases from the comfort of their living rooms.

"Mobile shopping is mainstream now, and eBay expects this holiday to be the largest mobile shopping season ever," said Steve Yankovich, vice president of eBay Mobile.

Yankovich said mobile technology puts consumers in the driver's seat and puts the mall right in their pockets. He said the company is using new mobile tools to help consumers shop and find the best deals, both on their couches and on the go.

According to the announcement, eBay predicts the largest tablet and mobile shopping season ever. The company is forecasting $5 billion in mobile sales on eBay and $3.5 billion in mobile payment volume.

The company's announcement said its mobile apps have been downloaded 58 million times and purchases using eBay on mobile devices average three purchases per second globally.

For more stories like this, visit the Trends/Statistics research center.