Research service Heavy Reading Mobile Networks Insider is making a bold prediction for mobile payments, forecasting that they will account for $1 trillion in global transactions by 2015. That's a full two years ahead of similar predictions from other analysts.

The company's new research report also predicts that merchants, not consumers will drivedemand.

"Mobile payments have gone from being a cool-to-talk-about concept to a disruptive technology in a relatively short time frame," says Denise Culver, research analyst with Heavy Reading Mobile Networks Insider and author of the report. "MNOs and payment vendors should be looking at different ways to drive demand for mobile payments, which have the potential to create significant revenue throughout the entire mobile ecosystem."

Other findings in Heavy Reading's report:

• Targeted services and improved customer service enabled by mobile payments will drive adoption. 
• Market consolidation and a more compelling value proposition for merchants and consumers will drive growth. 
• New solutions will be offered through a variety of new industry partnerships between billing providers, mobile network operators and financial institutions

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