IDC's 2006 Top 10 Telecom Predictions
The mobile wallet foreshadows a possible total change in consumer payment behavior. With various payment modes utilizing technologies such as infrared, SMS, interactive voice response, mobile scan and contact-less chips, the mobile phone is being transformed into a replacement for petty cash, debit and credit cards, with payments charged either through the mobile phone bill or even directly to the bank account. IDC expects the market to begin to take root, beyond the leading adopters of Korea and Japan, at least in the micro-payment segment.
Full predictions here.