Recent surge in mobile bill pay usage driven by Gen Y consumers.

• Position: MARKETING NEWS - Generation Y

A SHARP INCREASE IN MOBILE BILL PAYMENT in recent months is being spearheaded by Gen Y, which uses the mobile channel to manage billing and payment more than other generations, reports the financial services technology provider, Fiserv Inc., Brookfield, Wis.

Mobile bill payment usage surged from 8 million U.S. households in 2012 to 16 million in 2013, according to the 2013 Billing Household Survey from the company. The effect of Gen Y on these statistics is seen by the fact that 74 percent of Gen Y respondents consider multiple payment options important, compared with 67 percent of all respondents.

The growth in mobile bill payment is being propelled by a large degree by smartphone owners, among whom mobile bill payment surged 150 percent. The majority of consumers who pay bills by mobile device say they do so for its convenience (70 percent) and anytime access (55 percent).

More than one in three tablet owners had used their device to visit a biller site in the previous 30 days. The primary reason for the visit was to pay a bill (63 percent) followed by accessing invoice information and history (36 percent). One in four tablet owners use their tablet to pay bills at either a biller or financial institution website -- an increase of 19 percent over 2012.

The survey found that 83...