During 2006, consumers will spend more 'loose change' online for purchases of small, downloadable items like ring tones and pictures paid for through PayPal accounts.

The micro commerce element of mobile telephony will leach into the online business model by 2006, according to Gartner senior vice president Bob Hayward, and consumers will expect to pay for small services or products online in a similar way.

"Today, it is just not practical to spend just 20 cents on the Internet, but in the near future these payments will have to be supported," Hayward said, adding that systems will be put in place to support transactions under A$5 (US$3.72).

"If you are not interested in paying A$30 to subscribe to a newspaper online, the business model should support you paying just a few cents to access one particular column," he said.

Hayward's assessment is part of a presentation to be delivered at the Gartner Symposium from November 15 to 18, entitled Top 10 Tactical Technologies.