David Heun

Contactless payments have not caught on in the UK because consumers don't think payments are safe without a PIN, says SmartDebit, a Surrey-based payments processor in the UK, in response to recent figures published by ICM Research.

The Australian telcos – Optus, Telstra and Vodafone — all provided indications of a more concerted effort to make contactless mobile payments a bigger play in 2013.

As 2012 progressed, one thing became strikingly clear: the card networks do not want to be left behind as new digital payment methods threaten plastic.

EVO Payments International plans to move into the Spanish market with a proposed acquisition of Banco Popular's merchant acquiring business.

Powa Technologies Ltd. brought its mPowa mobile card reader into the U.S. market last year, looking to take on Square in what had become a highly competitive market. The London-based company plans to extend its international expansion to India as well.

It's nearly a full year since finance guru Suze Orman faced a backlash over her prepaid card fees and two years since the pricey Kardashian Kard went kaput — and yet the prepaid card market remains under fire for its pricing. Even so, prepaid cards are growing in popularity.

After a flurry of activity in the past year and a half to establish itself as a global payments processor, EVO Payments International LLC plans to move into the Spanish market with a proposed acquisition of Banco Popular's merchant acquiring business.

The Isis mobile wallet, a joint venture of AT&T, T-Mobile USA and Verizon Wireless, proceeded with great caution in 2012, delaying its test launches and generally keeping most industry observers guessing as to where the initiative stood. At the same time, Isis was keeping pace with the progress of Google Wallet, which launched a year earlier.

Fraud and data security trends can change by the minute, often making it difficult to pinpoint a specific development as a key event during the course of a year. Not so in 2012.

McDonald's is adding more tap-and-go acceptance at its payment terminals worldwide.

2012 was not the kindest of years to Google's mobile wallet, starting as it did with a security breach and ending with speculation that the a plastic card will be added to the otherwise entirely digital wallet.

If the timing were ever perfect for combining mobile payments or virtual gifting and a drink at a bar, the holidays and New Year's Eve in particular would be it.

McDonald's is adding more tap-and-go acceptance at its payment terminals worldwide.

Google’s mobile wallet appears to be staggering to the finish line of 2012. After all, it was a year that started with a reported security breach and is ending with speculation that the search-engine giant will add a plastic card to the otherwise entirely digital wallet.

For a company that has manufactured point-of-sale terminals in the UK since 1989, Thyron Systems Ltd. admits it has done so in a fairly quiet manner.

Marqeta is taking its rewards prepaid card and wrapping it around a program to encourage consumers to spend at restaurants in their hometown.

As consumers continue to embrace mobile banking and payments technology, banks and credit unions have to establish their place in that ecosystem as a partner willing to guide customers through the mobile commerce process.

It is not likely manufacturers and owners of ATMs will experience a more interesting – or challenging – year than 2012 any time soon.

The popularity of the Square payment-card reader has sparked a new market for accessories — smaller versions of the cases and sleeves people commonly buy for the iPhones which Square readers attach to.

American Express continues its move into a payments arena not often associated with the affluent customers served through the New York-based card network. It now accepts Amex card payments at gas stations commonly located in parking lots near Walmart stores.