The latest data is now indicating that tablet commerce is skyrocketing in importance, as the ownership of these devices has blasted off by 282 percent over the last two years, and a growing number of those gadget owners are shopping over these smaller screens. Shoppers are using tablet commerce both for making purchases as well as for researching products that they will later buy over their laptops and desktops, or in person at a brick and mortar shop.

Isis said payment terminal manufacturers and software providers are helping pave the way for its mobile wallet by integrating its SmartTap capabilities into their offerings. The mobile payment service is expected to roll out nationally later this year. | READ MORE The Isis SmartTap protocol is a new, proprietary mobile commerce software specification that leverages NFC technology, a standard feature on most new smartphones. When supported in an NFC reader or payment terminal, the SmartTap protocol enables Isis Mobile Wallet users to pay, present loyalty cards and redeem offers in a single transaction.

Zapp, a UK mobile commerce company set up by VocaLink, has signed a partnership agreement with WorldPay. The agreement is expected to allow retailers across the UK to support Zapp's new mobile payments app. Shoppers will be able to use their mobile phones to pay at stores in 2014, The Telegraph reports. The Zapp app is designed to work with the type of online banking applications provided by Barclays, NatWest, Nationwide and Lloyds. The service works using a code sent to a customer's smartphone at the till or online checkout.

MasterCard offered up a number of new additions intended to upgrade the shopping experience for consumers using MasterCard digital payments products at its Innovation Showcase yesterday in New York City. After PayPal last week added new shopping features to its digital wallet, MasterCard added a new service called ShopThis! to its MasterPass wallet. The service, which MasterCard is offering with Intel and PhiSix Fashion Labs, offers online shoppers looking for fashion and clothing items a fully interactive 3D virtual fitting room through Intel's Virtual Shopping Experience, MasterCard said in a statement.

PayPal introduced a new version of its mobile app on Thursday, unveiling features designed to make it easier for users to pay restaurant bills or take advantage of location-based deals while on the go. The updated app lets users access full menus from approved restaurants and order ahead of time to cut down on wait times. At launch, that feature was available at about 1,000 Eat24 restaurants, with more to come. Diners can use the app to check in to participating restaurants and view a bill, or even pay and tip, rather than having to wait for a server to …

Uniqlo is expanding its mobile footprint with a new application that leverages image recognition to increase foot traffic as the retailer opens 10 new stores in the United States. The apparel retailer is rolling out the new USA iPhone app to primarily drive in-store traffic, since the company does not offer mobile commerce. In addition to image recognition, the app also includes store locator features.

Vodafone, a global telecommunications organization, is one of several companies in its industry that have been showing aggressive interest in mobile commerce. Consumers are becoming more involved in mobile technology, leading to a growing demand for a more convenient, tech-savvy form of commerce. Vodafone has been working to position itself as a leader in the mobile commerce sector by meeting this demand with its SmartPass platform. The company has recently begun a pilot test for the platform in Auckland, New Zealand, before an international launch later this year.

Swiss watchmaker Patek Philippe is promoting the craftsmanship behind its pieces by adding a QR code on a print advertisement to encourage consumers to learn more about the brand. Patek Philippe placed its QR code in the September issue of Hearst-owned Veranda magazine where many high-end jewelry brands also took out ad space.

By using a testing and optimization strategy, Ancestry.com determined that the additional transactions provided by a simpler purchase experience on Google Play did not outweigh the additional revenue generated by sending visitors to its own mobile purchase flow. With mobile traffic growing quickly, Ancestry.com knew it needed to sell subscriptions through its mobile app, but wanted to figure out the most profitable way to do so.

Think you have time to idle over your mobile commerce launch? Not so. Seventy-one percent of companies see m-commerce as very or extremely important to the future of their organizations, according to nearly 900 qualified respondents to our InformationWeek and Mobile Commerce World survey. Companies such as MGM Resorts International see mobile as a new way to drive revenue. In a press event during the recent Interop show in Las Vegas, MGM chief digital officer John Bollen didn't showcase a big data or security initiative.