The following fact always comes as a surprise to many people: there are very few technologies (as opposed to features) that Apple actually invented. Take iPhone, for example: Apple simply "glued" together (OK, it was far from simple and trivial, but still)
components and technologies that existed for a number of years elsewhere.
It all started with Apple's cornerstones - GUI and a mouse - we all know where those two technologies originated from (the same place where Steve saw the technology he later regretted he
had overlooked - the network).
In 2005 I had a number of discussions with senior system architects of HTC and Motorola - my group was interested in developing a mobile phone without... buttons. We were flatly told by "experts" that a touchscreen phone is a "complete nonsense" and would
never fly because "consumers need buttons, they like pressing them".
That's what 99% of companies out there don't get about Apple. It's not about a technological invention (e.g. Apple did not invent an MP3 player), it's about unparalleled user experience (e.g. iPod and, more importantly, iTunes). To truly understand the importance
of that, one needs to go through the "Nexus 7 box opening" experience. That's why everything we do at TEDIPAY is driven by UX.
Apply the above principles to mobile payments and mobile wallets, and it becomes clear which companies don't stand a chance to be a leader. It's just a matter of time before the pecking order is crystallized.