USAA

In the near future, you might not even have to visit a bank or an ATM to deposit a check. You'll simply snap a couple of photos of it with your cell phone.

Applications to do just that are already available for Apple's iPhone and other gadgets from USAA, a company that provides insurance and banking mainly for military veterans. Chase, Bank of America and Citibank are among the banks planning to release similar applications this year.

Expectations that AT&T will lower the cost of wireless service for Apple's iPhone are growing. A $20-a-month data plan with limited access is a possibility for the exclusive U.S. iPhone service provider.

AT&T's monthly plan for the iPhone is currently $69 plus taxes and fees and includes a $30 unlimited data plan. A comScore study found that 43 percent of current iPhone users have incomes above $100,000, so AT&T needs a lower price for it and Apple to grab a larger share of the smartphone market.