US consumers are keen to use their mobile handsets for making in-store payments, but the majority only wants to have one credit/debit account for making those purchases, according to a new ABI Research survey of US consumer attitudes.

Much of the work on developing a standard application platform across NFC handsets has been geared at providing a platform capable of supporting and managing multiple payment accounts from any number of credit and debit card issuers. However, ABI Research’s “Mobile and Contactless Payments” survey, carried out at the end of 2007, reveals that initially at least, consumers prefer a single account that is easy to manage on the handset.

“Our survey revealed a number of important attitudes toward contactless payments among US consumers,” says principal analyst Jonathan Collins. “The desire for a single and separate account on NFC handsets, for example, provides a heads-up to existing credit and debit card suppliers that new or separate products may be required to keep customers as they move to mobile payments. Furthermore, it shows potential for new and specialized mobile payment providers to step in, as users turn to NFC-enabled payments.”

The survey drew together opinions from a web-based sample of more than 1000 respondents drawn from across the United States and ranging in age from 14 to 59. Participants were grouped into five age categories and five income categories. It also examined the appeal of and major concerns regarding mobile handset payments. There are clear lessons to be drawn from opinions across all age and income groups.

Other key findings from the survey include consumer attitudes toward handset security and toward potential account fees, issues that mobile operators and their NFC payment partners will have to tackle ahead of any successful contactless handset payment deployment.