Next week Apple will host its yearly Worldwide Developers Conference. It is the event where company CEO Tim Cook - and formerly Steve Jobs - will take the stage and announce a host of new or upgraded services and hardware. Leading up to the event, the blogosphere is abuzz with rumors and wish lists of what Apple may have up its sleeve.

While the biggest nuggets of interest involved a streaming music service, the unveiling of iOS 7 and wearable technology known as the iWatch, the payment industry will be looking for something different to be announced.

There has been talk of EMV technology being incorporated into the hardware of the iPhone for a few years, but Apple chose a different mobile commerce plan with its Passbook application in iOS 6 last year.

There was another interesting piece of news that Business Insider reported on this week. Apple recently filed a patent on technology that would allow users to make payments by placing an iPhone or iPad over a special receiver.

"All you need to know is this: Apple would like to patent the technology that lets you pay for stuff by tapping your phone to a special pad," the source reported. "It also explains that offers and discounts can be tied into the product and automatically redeemed when you purchase something."

How will Passbook be upgraded, if at all? Will the patented technology be revealed? Is there another mobile commerce solution that could show up? Check back right here following the convention to see what could be the future of retail payments.