One of the biggest decisions that financial services companies face today is to select the right technology for their mobile service delivery. With a multitude of tablets, smartphones and applications out there in the consumer world – some better than others – the wrong decision could result in less than anticipated results, or worse.

Which device is best of show now for credit unions to enhance their virtual services to members? The research is pointing in one direction … the iPad is at the top of the mobile food chain. Apps available today enable credit union members to use their iPad tablet to easily access their personal account status and history, as well as credit union-hosted Web pages or the credit union's presence on Facebook or Twitter.

With so many tablets on the market, why the iPad? It's simple. Because Apple's iPad is the most widely used tablet in the U.S. According to a recent study by Pew Research Center, ownership has increased from 5% of American adults to about 20% in the past two years. When users are categorized by households that earn $75,000 or more per year, that figure increases to 47%.