"Smart devices have called for more attention to mobile payments, but it’s worth noting that the "hype" needs to be taken at face value. Yes, mobile payments will shape the future of the industry, but market entrants and technology brands will not have enough in their arsenal without partnering with established players. We have already seen this from the likes of Samsung and Visa collaborating on mobile contactless payments during the Olympics, and we expect to see more activity like this in 2013 to drive further innovations."

"Another critical development set for 2013 is the production of NFC-enabled cards and terminals. Despite initial interest a few years ago, not many consumers realise they have cards with in-built NFC functionalities, which has halted the progression of contactless technologies overall. Nevertheless, this knowledge deficit will fall during 2013 as more companies lean towards contactless payment systems, the most recent being the London Bus network which is kick-starting UK adoption."