Review of developments in payment systems 2010: Online micropayments

One of the major benefits of the internet is that its content, for the most part, is free. But this can be a major problem for companies not generating enough revenue to continue to give away information, which include not only newspapers and publishers but also pharmaceutical and other companies needing to charge for the advice they offer on their websites if they are to continue to provide the service. A cost-effective way of collecting low value payments of $1 or less on the internet is urgently required.