Marketers hoping that the rapid shift toward mobile devices will help simplify their email approaches during the holiday season may be disappointed, according to a recent report from Return Path.

Global consumers appear to be engaging in more multi-screen rather than mobile-only email interactions this year, the analysis found. Moreover, in November, less than half of the emails examined were opened on a mobile device, a decrease from last year when mobile open rates surpassed 50%.

The report was based on data from 16 billion email opens that occurred between October 2013 and December 2014.

Other key holiday mobile email trends highlighted in the report:

• Last year, 62% of all email opens occurred on mobile devices on Christmas Day; the proportion this year could serve as a good indicator of whether the move to mobile has accelerated or steadied.
• Despite reports of declining sales, iPads continue make up more than 20% of email opens on iOS devices, indicating people may be sticking with their existing tablets rather than using them less.
• Residents of the United Kingdom average the most mobile emails opens (60%) of any country examined.
• Apparel retailers have the highest mobile email open rates (59%) of any industry.