Boston, MA (PRWEB) November 11, 2005
Over the past year, the number of micropayments transactions processed over electronic networks has skyrocketed. Sub-five dollar sales of online digital content and mobile content showed significant growth from 2003 to 2004 and no signs of slowing down.
Indeed, mobile micropayments grew from roughly $2 billion to $5 billion between 2003 and 2004 while micropayment purchases of digital content over online channels grew at a rate of over 250 percent for the same time period. In the physical world, the transformation of traditional small dollar cash only payments to electronic micropayments is driving growth in what has been predicted to be a trillion dollar market.
"The number, volume, and growth of micropayment transactions is pretty staggering on the surface. We've tapped a rapidly growing market for transactions that has become a must have in the arsenal of electronic network providers," according to Mike Friedman, Director of Mercator Advisory Group's Emerging Technologies Service and lead analyst on the report. "There is a wealth of opportunity for dedicated micropayment processors and traditional network players, and we have only scratched the surface."
In Anticipating Micropayment Growth, Mercator Advisory Group examines the current state and potential for growth of micropayments. The report features data on micropayment transactions occurring online, over mobile networks, and in the physical world. Digital content data is broken out by market segment updating previous Mercator Advisory Group research on micropayments. The report also highlights trends in the payment industry driving micropayment growth and identifies specific technologies and segments likely to provide additional growth opportunities.
In addition to current volumes and micropayment growth, Mercator Advisory Group's latest report explores changes to interchange rates and transaction fees by some electronic payment network providers. New rates and fees focused on generating volumes in the micropayment and small dollar space come on the heals of contactless cards and POS technology, but are likely to increase adoption of card payments for sub-five dollar purchases. Finally, the report identifies the leading players in the micropayment market.
Highlights of this report include:
- Micropayments are defined as electronic payments for which traditional methods of processing may be too costly to be efficient.
- Micropayments represent a rapidly growing and relatively untouched stream of electronic transactions.
- Growth in micropayments has been fueled by the introduction of popular digital content distribution sites and the card enabling of cash based transactions in the offline world.
- Changes to interchange rates and transaction fees by networks and associations are driving micropayment transactions through more traditional card-based channels.
- The competitive field of micropayment processors remains strong as traditional players revise their business models to focus on opportunities like digital content management, content aggregation and customer service.
Members of Mercator Advisory Group have access to these reports as well as the upcoming research for the year ahead, presentations, analyst access and other membership benefits. Please visit us online at http://www.mercatoradvisorygroup.com.
For more information call Mercator Advisory Group's main line: 781-419-1700 or send email.
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