AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon have formed a joint venture called Isis, a national mobile commerce network that will let consumers use their mobile phones to make point-of-sale purchases.

Google CEO Eric Schmidt’s incendiary statement that near field communication-enabled Android smartphones would be positioned to replace credit cards has sent shockwaves through the mobile commerce ecosystem.

If Apple enables the iPhone 5 with near field communication, it could signal a tipping point for contactless mobile payments.

Starbucks’ new BlackBerry application lets consumers purchase items using its mobile payment option in Target Starbucks locations and 16 trial stores in Seattle and Silicon Valley.

While mobile payments are convenient, consumers could be at risk when mistakes are made by merchants and processors or as a result of fraud.

Verizon Communications’ $400,000 investment in mobile loyalty specialist CardStar proves that value-added services are key to driving adoption of mobile payments.

AT&T and Verizon’s potential partnership for a mobile payments service is an opportunity to expand mobile commerce.

Citigroup responded quickly to correct a security flaw in its mobile banking app for iPhone, and the problem seems to be an isolated incident, not an alarming trend.

McDonald’s use of mobile technology proves Near Field Communications will be the next big thing.

The growth of mobile payments in the U.S. has stalled because the stakeholders have been unable to build compatible business models. But is the tipping point at hand?