NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--PYMNTS.com, is an online media channel that captures user-generated and expert-driven commentary, information, news and analysis on "what's next" in the payments sector, worldwide. The site provides a platform for industry professionals to share content related to their latest company and product developments, to tap into the collective commentary and analysis from experts, bloggers and industry pundits, and to interact with industry thought leaders and other influentials on topics of critical importance to the future of the sector. PYMTNS.com was launched on October 20, 2009 in New York at The Lydian Roundtable, an annual closed door gathering of industry executives, in which Warren Buffett delivered a video keynote produced by DS Simon Productions Inc on "what's next" in the payments sector.

PYMNTS.com. provides an innovative new platform for emerging players to "pitch" their venture and companies in the sector to launch new products. The PYMNTS.com wiki provides a first-ever country-specific payment information repository, created and maintained by professionals in those countries with access to and knowledge of their local payments environment. Breaking news is provided by a direct feed to the site from Business Wire. PYMNTS.com will also host the third edition of Paying with Plastic: The Digital Revolution in Buying and Borrowing written by Market Platform Dynamics Founder and Chairman, David S. Evans and Richard Schmalensee, respectively.

PYMNTS.com will address a variety of topics, including the "mash-up" of payments and mobile, payments and social media/social networks, and payments and online media as well as the technologies and applications that are driving the sector's innovation and evolution worldwide.

A joint venture of Business Wire, a Berkshire Hathaway Company and Market Platform Dynamics, PYMNTS.com will redefine the ways in which B2B news and information is both generated and distributed. "PYMNTS.com delivers an important ‘first look' at what's important to the sector, by those who are shaping its future," remarks Karen Webster, President of Market Platform Dynamics. "We're often asked to help our clients define ‘what's next' in the context of the new technologies, new entrants and new business models and observed an opportunity to aggregate user-generated and expert-opinion on those topics in an engaging medium. We hope that PYMNTS.com will play an important role in both stimulating and documenting the exciting developments that have and will enable commerce worldwide."

"Discovering and creating new and innovative ways to deliver and feature breaking news content from our members is a primary goal for us at Business Wire," said Cathy Baron Tamraz, Business Wire's President and Chief Executive Officer. "PYMNTS.com takes the online industry trade publication concept and moves it into the 21st century by combining news and commentary from media, industry leaders and academics with the tools of social media to bring all interested parties into the conversation."

PYMNTS.com addresses topics of interest to the payments community in The Briefing Room. New entrants and established companies alike can pitch new products and services in the  Hot Pitches area. Intel is the site's shared content platform which encourages everyone to upload content that they would like to share with their fellow professionals, Industry Insider features "what's up" with the leading players, and offers a chance to Ask the Industry. Community interaction is encouraged in various country wikis and on the PYMNTS.com blog.

A key feature of the site is the Lydian Payments Journal which is an online journal focused exclusively on the global payments sector. Named after the kingdom credited with inventing coinage in 600 BC, this monthly journal will publish original pieces from prominent thought leaders across the globe. It will shape and chronicle the industry on a spectrum of topics from policy issues such as competition, consumer protection, fees and interchange to disruptive innovation such as social lending, remittance products, and mobile commerce.

For information on the editorial calendar for upcoming topics being featured on PYMNTS.com, please contact editorial@PYMNTS.com

You can also subscribe to receive the daily PYMNTS.com newsletter at subscribe@PYMNTS.com.

Follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/pymnts join the PYMNTS Linked In group.

For information on how you can provide content to PYMNTS.com portal contact us at info@PYMNTS.com.

About Market Platform Dynamics (MPD):

MPD is a management consulting firm that ignites catalyst businesses by leveraging new technologies, business models and pricing strategies. MPD has a wealth of experience within industries that are characterized by complex platform-centered ecosystems, including payments, mobile/telecoms, digital and advertising-supported media, and software-based businesses.

MPD works with both incumbents and new entrants, offering a unique lens into the dynamics that shape the competitive playing field. In addition to traditional consulting-based services, MPD's Catalyst Ventures provides intellectual and human capital to new firms. MPD's experts include economists, econometricians, product development specialists, and strategic marketers who apply cutting-edge business theory and statistical methods to the practical problems of building and growing a profitable catalyst business. MPD is headquartered in Cambridge, MA, and has offices in London and Hong Kong.

For more information visit www.marketplatforms.com.

About Business Wire

Business Wire, a Berkshire Hathaway company, is utilized by tens of thousands of member companies and organizations worldwide to functionally enhance  and communicate investor relations and public relations content to target audiences. As a recognized disclosure service in the United States, Canada and a dozen European countries, Business Wire facilitates the simultaneous flow of market-moving press releases from corporations to financial markets and their audiences, including regulatory authorities, media, investors, financial information systems and consumer news services. Business Wire also handles XBRL tagging, document formatting and regulatory filing into EDGAR, SEDAR, FSA and other systems.

Communications professionals turn to Business Wire to optimize and issue press releases, photos and multimedia to news organizations, journalists, trade publications, search engines, and individuals, with full-text posting to web sites, online services and databases. A range of distribution options enables members to target by geography, industry, news theme and audience demographics.

Founded in 1961, Business Wire has dual headquarters in San Francisco and New York, with 30 bureaus in cities including Los Angeles, Chicago, Boston, Miami, Paris, Frankfurt, London, Brussels, Tokyo, Toronto and Sydney and reciprocal offices throughout the world. Business Wire's patented NX data platform supports XML, XHTML and XBRL code that enhances news release interactivity, social media sharing and search engine optimization. More information about Business Wire and its services is located on its website at www.BusinessWire.com.

Photos/Multimedia  Gallery Available: http://www.businesswire.com/cgi-bin/mmg.cgi?eid=6080285&lang=en