In a dismal economic year, the online channel presents the brightest spot of hope for many retailers. While traditional sales are barely breathing, online sales remain the only growing sector of retail for some verticals, and interest in the mobile channel – for both retailers and consumers – is unabated.

Consumers have accelerated their online shopping habits, and the timeline for mobile shopping adoption has taken a huge turn with the overwhelming consumer acceptance of the iPhone and the subsequent introduction of competing smart phones and app stores. For retailers, this has meant a broad adjustment in the definition of what “online commerce” really means.

How are retailers responding to these trends, and how is it impacting their technology investment priorities? What are the practices that the best retailers – large and small – are using to try to get themost out of the only channel where progress continues? Perhaps most importantly, how will these trends affect the coming holiday season?