About half of U.S. homes are on equalized billing programs that even out power bills month to month and are the antithesis of real-time pricing programs.

FORBES: Energy

This includes more information like account balances and real-time alerts, loyalty programs, as well as Priceless offers and experiences.

ENGADGET: MasterCard announces MasterPass digital banking service, gives Australia and Canada first dibs

Other models include firms that developed automated trading programs once real-time data became available on Wall Street.

ECONOMIST: Chain reaction