Back in 1969, consultants proclaimed we were entering a "credit card society" that would have the greatest impact on cash purchases. As electronic payment options grew and took hold in the marketplace over the years, many experts predicted the imminent demise of cash. And today, some economies have either already gone cashless or have plans do to so within set deadlines. Yet cash remains entrenched for a number of transaction types. The lead article in this issue discusses the evolution of cash and its coexistence with an ever increasing array of electronic alternatives.
Mobile payment alternatives to cash have gained widespread attention in the industry, and features in this issue explore how more enterprises are transitioning to mobile options to expedite their business-to-business and business-to-consumer services. And cash certainly isn't king in the online sphere. For those who want to expand in this arena, an expert in European commerce offers several parameters for doing business in the U.K., Germany and France.
Other contributing writers point out ways in which merchant level salespeople (MLSs) sometimes sabotage their profits and how to avoid doing so; present a rationale for changing one's perspective on services typically deemed additional or ancillary; and detail the difference in potential earnings between MLSs who are independent contractors (IRS form 1099) and those who are classified as employees (IRS form W-2).
Delving further into IRS classifications, a feature article discusses the benefits of incorporating your business as opposed to operating as a sole proprietor. Other features, review payments industry mergers and acquisitions in the past year, discuss how improved voice inflection can lead to better sales presentations, and reveal recent trends in banking and payments.
Along with news briefs on recent industry research and company expansions, investments, awards, innovations, partnerships, acquisitions, appointments and other milestones; we've also included news on developments in the prepaid realm, highlights from recent tradeshows, new product stories, and reports on the TSYS acquisition of TransFirst and Visa's mandate that Level 4 merchants must now use PCI-accredited integrators and resellers. More news stories can be found under Breaking Industry News on our home page, www.greensheet.com. We hope you enjoy the rich content in this issue. Is there a development in the payments realm you'd like to see us address? Do let us know at greensheet@greensheet.com. And remember to send press releases to press@greensheet.com so we can post them online for you. 
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