Payments looks to be one of the most important battle fields on which the big tech companies are engaging. We’ve known for some time that Google would be getting into the NFC-based payment realm – in other words, you will …

"Anonymous" is an "Internet gathering" of people that has perpetrated Operation Payback, which took down MasterCard.com, Visa.com and others, because of how they’ve handled their relationships with Wikileaks, has issued a press release in attempt to clarify what it is trying to do. 

Update 3. MasterCard is back, and Anonymous (those behind Operation Payback) have issues a press release.

Update 2: The group (Operation Payback) credited with bringing down both MasterCard.com and Visa.com has had its Facebook Page removed for violating terms of service. It’s Twitter account was also suspended.

Update: Visa.com is now down as well. MasterCard.com is still down. (As of 4:30pm Eastern)

Amazon.com has released its annual 2010 Holiday Toy List, which features this year’s most popular toys, video games, sporting goods, electronics, music, movies and books for kids.

The online retailer has introduced free two-day shipping , or a $10 credit towards a future purchase for Amazon Prime members, when they use a MasterCard to buy $75 or more in eligible items from the Holiday Toy List.

This week MasterCard announced a new developer initiative, which will place MasterCard payment technology in mobile and online apps.

"We are excited about tapping into the ingenuity of software developers around the globe to help create the next generation of game-changing payment applications," said Josh Peirez, Chief Innovation Officer, MasterCard Worldwide. "We feel this will unleash innovation within our industry especially in the burgeoning areas of e-commerce and mobile payments."

MasterCard Worldwide said today is has entered into a three- year exclusive alliance with ecommerce aggregator Next Jump to launch the MasterCard MarketPlace.

MasterCard MarketPlace offers access to hundred of merchant -funded discounts and special deals each day from a network of thousands of merchants across the U.S.

Special offers from the MasterCard MarketPlace include free shipping from a network of participating merchants across a wide variety of categories including apparel, jewelry, electronics and children’s clothing.