Gartner, a leadingworldwide information technology research firm, says that it will be three years before mobile payment is commonplace.

A May 2009 report predicts that the number of mobile payment users will reach more than 190 million in 2012, representing more than 3 percent of total mobile users worldwide, a level considered "mainstream."

In terms of both number of users and transactions, Asia/Pacific and Japan are expected to have a larger share of the market through 2012. Mobile payment in Western Europe is to rise from 0.9 percent in 2009 to 2.5 percent in 2012, and from 1.7 percent to 3 percent in North America. Usage in Asia/Pacific and Japan will rise from 2 percent in 2009 to 3.8 percent in 2012. A rise of more than 3 percent by 2012 is anticipated in Eastern Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA) and Latin America.