YNOT EUROPE – A Juniper Research study concluded the total value of mobile payments for digital and physical goods, money transfers and Near Field Communications transactions will reach $670 billion by 2015, up from $240 billion this year. The forecast represents the gross value of all purchases and money transfers.

Juniper’s Mobile Payment Strategies report contends all segments will exhibit 200- to 300-percent growth over the next five years. Expected drivers include rapid adoption of mobile ticketing, NFC contactless payments, physical goods purchases and money transfers as people in both developed and developing countries use their mobile devices for everyday transactions.

Some 20 countries are expected to launch NFC services within the next 18 months, resulting in transactions approaching $50 billion worldwide by 2014. Meanwhile, the need for financial access in developing countries is such that active mobile money users will double by 2013 and drive transaction values accordingly.

“Our analysis shows that emerging segments such as physical goods payments, NFC and money transfers will fuel market growth by a factor of 2.7 times by 2015,” Juniper Senior Analyst David Snow explained. “Digital goods is the largest segment and, although forecast to more than double, it is not growing as quickly as some of the newer segments.”

According to the report, the top three regions for mobile payments — Far East and China, Western Europe and North America — will represent 75 percent of the global mobile payment gross transaction value by 2015. Digital goods payments will account for nearly 40 percent of the market in 2015.

A whitepaper outlining the research and conclusions, “Mobile Payment Strategies: Opportunities & Markets 2011-2015,” may be downloaded free at JuniperResearch.com.