New Report Outlines Major Findings -- "Service-oriented, business-driven and cost-effective emerged as the key characteristics of city governments that participated in the 2004 Digital Cities Survey, according to a new report issued by the Center for Digital Government and National League of Cities (NLC). The report documents the results, major findings, and trends from last year�s survey, which evaluated city governments� use of information technology to better serve their citizens and streamline operations. The survey evaluation was based on 24 scored questions and 56 data points in all. Results of the survey provide new evidence that advancements have been made in the campaign for digital government, said Paul W. Taylor, Ph.D., chief strategy officer at the Center."
Alternative Payment Methods (APMs) – comprising digital wallets, instant payments, and QR payment systems – are experiencing explosive growth that's reshaping the global financial services marketplace. According to the latest worldwide market study by ABI Research , the combined global transaction value for APMs is projected to reach $142 trillion by 2030. What's particularly fascinating is the underlying driver behind this trend: a growing desire for financial sovereignty, with nations developing domestic payment ecosystems rather than remaining dependent on international financial networks. Payment Ecosystem Market Development In 2024, approximately 45 percent of the global population used digital wallets – a remarkable adoption rate for a technology that barely existed a decade ago. China leads this transition, with 95 percent of its population using WeChat's payment functionality. WeChat exemplifies the "super app" phenomenon, where payment capabilities are in...