At 12:01 a.m. on August 1, 1981 "Video Killed the Radio Star" kicked off the demise of radio. That was the first music video to be played on MTV, ushering in a new era of music that forever changed the way consumers enjoy it. There are few moments like this where everyone can unanimously agree that a game changing moment is happening before our eyes.

The mobile payment industry has reached one of those moments as the tablet POS has killed the cash register. At least that is the opinion expressed in a recent Fast Casual article written by James Wester.

"Ever since Apple introduced roaming retail associates in its stores, all equipped with the tools to complete a transaction on the spot, retailers and restaurant owners have foreseen the death of the traditional cash wrap," Wester wrote. "After all, why force customers to walk to a register if an associate can finish the sale immediately?"

During January's "Big Show" retail conference in New York, the tablet was front and center for several companies that are offering new applications, hardware or services for the device. Wester expressed his interest o how the market will involve in the next few months as retailers start to take mobile cash registers into redesign plans, certain features gain popularity and customers start to react to technology boosts at local mom and pop shops.

Many merchants have opened their eyes to the future of the point of sales system and the tablet's place there. While some are still investigating the technology, others have jumped on the bandwagon and are delivering an updated offerings that are making the customer experience better than ever.